| 246 News Items |
| 2005-6 constitution |
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Premier Division: Blackstones, Boston Town, Bourne Town, Buckingham Town, Cogenhoe United, Deeping Rangers, Desborough Town, Ford Sports Daventry, Harrowby United, Holbeach United, Long Buckby, Newport Pagnell Town, Northampton Spencer, Potton United, Raunds Town, St Ives Town, St Neots Town, Stewarts & Lloyds Corby, Stotfold, Woodford United, Wootton Blue Cross, Yaxley (22).
Division One: AFC Kempston Rovers, Blisworth, Bugbrooke St Michaels, Burton Park Wanderers, Daventry Town, Eynesbury Rovers, Higham Town, Huntingdon Town, Irchester United, Northampton ON Chenecks, Northampton Sileby Rangers, Olney Town, Peterborough Northern Star, Rothwell Corinthians, Sleaford Town, Thrapston Town, Wellingborough Town 2004, Wellingborough Whitworths (18). Reserve Division One: Blackstones, Bourne Town, Cogenhoe United, Deeping Rangers, Desborough Town, Eynesbury Rovers, Ford Sports Daventry, Newport Pagnell Town, Northampton Sileby Rangers, Northampton Spencer, Raunds Town, Rothwell Town, Stewarts & Lloyds Corby, Stotfold, Wellingborough Whitworths, Yaxley (16). Reserve Division Two: Bugbrooke St Michaels, Burton Park Wanderers, Daventry Town, Higham Town, Holbeach United, Huntingdon Town, Irchester United, Long Buckby, Northampton ON Chenecks, Olney Town, Rothwell Corinthians, Spalding United, Thrapston Town, Wellingborough Town 2004, Woodford United (15). |
| 2005-06 League Knockout Cup draw |
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Preliminary Round
Raunds v Eynesbury; Blackstones v Rothwell Corinthians; Deeping v Yaxley; Irchester v Peterborough Northern Star; Long Buckby v Ford Sports; Blisworth v Stotfold; Potton v Huntingdon; St Ives v Wellingborough. First Round Buckingham v Long Buckby/Ford Sports; Deeping/Yaxley v St Ives/Wellingborough; Potton/Huntingdon v Burton PW; Higham v St Neots; Woodford v Olney; Irchester/Peterborough Northern Star v O N Chenecks; Raunds/Eynesbury v Stewarts & Lloyds; Newport Pagnell v Bugbrooke; Cogenhoe v Blackstones/Rothwell Corinthians; Daventry v Kempston: Boston Town v Holbeach; Harrowby v Sileby; Northampton Spencer v Whitworths; Wootton v Sleaford; Bourne v Blisworth/Stotfold; Thrapston v Desborough. |
| 2005-06 Reserve Knockout Cup draw |
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First Round
Desborough v Yaxley; Deeping v Rothwell Corinthians; Burton PW v Cogenhoe; Holbeach v Eynesbury; ON Chenecks v Whitworths; Higham v Irchester; Bourne v Newport Pagnell; Olney v Spalding; Stewarts & Lloyds v Thrapston; Raunds v Rothwell Town; Bugbrooke v Daventry; Ford Sports v Woodford; Wellingborough v Long Buckby; Sileby v Stotfold; Northampton Spencer v Blackstones. Bye: Huntingdon. |
| Kuhne the Saints choice |
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St Neots have named 38 year old Steve Kuhne as their new manager. It is his second venture into UCL management as he was previously in charge at Wootton Blue Cross from October 1998 to May 2000. Kuhne has already had four spells with the Saints as a player in long career in UCL football, and with 268 goals to his name in the league he is one of the most prolific scorers currently playing in the competition. In the 2004-05 season he left Rowley Park in the early weeks of the campaign plundering 34 goals in Potton's multi trophy season of success. Kuhne has also played for Arlesey, Stamford and Cogenhoe in the UCL. He was on Tottenham's books as a youngster and also played in the Isthmian Leagye for the likes of Hayes, Yeading, Hampton and Uxbridge. |
| Diamonds duo take the Kempston reins |
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Rushden & Diamonds academy coaches Clive Black and Mark Starmer will form the new management team at AFC Kempston Rovers. The duo replace Bob Reed and John Dower, who left Hillgrounds just before the end of last season.
Black joined the Walnut Boys as a coach last summer, but missed the second half of the season after being injured in a car crash. |
| Fair play awards go to Lincolnshire |
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The 2004-05 Fair play trophies are both Lincolnshire bound. The first teams' award has been won by Blackstones with the reserve award going to Bourne Town for the second year running. The overall positions show Stones at the top with the Wakes in third. Splitting the Lincolnshire clubs are Olney Town in second place. The three clubs will also receive an appropriate cheque at the AGM at Raunds on 8th June. |
| Hospitality awards |
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The league's 2004-05 hospitality awards have been won by St Neots Town who received the top marks from referees and Ford Sports who received the best marks from their fellow clubs for the second season running. In addition to these clubs, Eye United completed the overall top three, and the trio will all receive appropriate cheques at the AGM at Raunds on 8th June. |
| Retirement beckons for stalwarts |
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Two of the league's best known players are heading into retirement at the age of 40.
Boston Town skipper Lee Rippin in expected to remain at Tattershall Road in some capacity after calling time on a 25 year career which saw him make his Poachers debut as a 15 year old. He played around 650 games for Town, exactly 450 in the UCL, and played in two UCL championship sides for the Poachers and one for Spalding. Rippin also played in the Southern League for both Grantham and Kings Lynn. Hanging up his gloves is Stotfold goalkeeper Steve Young, after a 615 match UCL career. He played 340 games for the Eagles, 171 for Potton, where he won his only championship and 104 for St Neots. Perhaps his finest achievement came when he played in Arlesey's FA Vase winning side. |
| Potton pair win Manager of the Year accolade |
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An outstanding first season back in the top flight has seen Potton managerial duo Dick Newman and Roy Bloxham named the league's Manager of the Year winners. The Royals won the League Knockout Cup, Hinchingbrooke Cup, North Beds Charity Cup and Baker Perkins trophy for the highest aggregate of goals, were runners up in the Premier Division and reached the 4th Round of the FA Vase. In all they played 63 matches in all competitions, winning 48 and losing only ten. |
| Knowles wins Referee of the Year award |
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Chris Knowles from Northampton has been awarded the Eric Evans Trophy for the Referee of the Year, an impressive achievement in his first year on the full list. Two more of our leading referees, Stuart Burt from Northampton and Wayne Porter from Bourne, have been promoted to the national contributory league list for season 2005-06. |
| Shrieves takes charge at Newport |
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Newport Pagnell have handed Terry Shrieves the managerial reins. The new Willen Road boss formerly managed Buckingham Athletic and Milton Keynes City and his playing career saw him top the Buckingham scorecharts in the Robins' four trophy winning season in 1983-84 before spells with Kettering, Aylesbury and Baldock.
Shrieves has appointed Peter Miller as his assistant, Tony Court as coach and Phil Bone as reserve and under 18s manager. |
| Jelley takes charge at Spencer |
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Former player Steve Jelley has been appointed as manager of Northampton Spencer. He was a member of the club's promotion winning side in 1985 and has recently been a member of the management team at hugely successful Sunday club Duke of York, FA Sunday Cup winners in 2003. |
| Shipp steps up at Eynesbury |
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Dean Shipp has stepped up from reserve boss at Eynesbury to fill the gap left by Steve Galbraith's departure. Long serving goalkeeper Shipp has served a five year apprenticeship with the second string, leading them to promotion in 2004. His assistant Andy Butterwick now takes charge of the reserves for the second time, having previously held the reins before a four year spell coaching in New Zealand. |
| Whitworths promote from within |
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Whitworths have promoted Steve Medlin from reserve team boss to replace Higham bound Mark Desborough in the Flourmen's hot seat. Medlin steered the second string to promotion from Reserve Division Two at the first attempt and also led them to the Northants Lower Junior Cup final. Joe Smyth, who had a previous spell as Mark Herring's assistant, returns to the post as Medlin's second in command. |
| Cook quits Eagles |
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Steve Cook has stepped down as player manager of Stotfold after just a single season at the Roker helm. He has subsequently been named as player manager of Southern League Eastern Division club Boreham Wood. |
| Duo set up league friendlies |
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Two of our member clubs have set up prestigious pre season friendlies against Coca Cola League opposition. Boston Town will entertain league rivals Boston United on Saturday July 9th while seven days later Buckingham Town host the Milton Keynes Dons at Ford Meadow. |
| Huntingdon bid for Vase place |
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Huntingdon have applied to compete in the FA Vase in the 2005-06 season. They will be bidding to join fellow lower grade clubs from 2004-05 Kempston, Bugbrooke, Eynesbury, Rothwell Corinthians & St Ives in the competition. All of last season's Premier clubs apart from Harrowby and Stewarts & Lloyds have applied to play in the both the FA Cup and Vase. |
| Another programme success for Eynesbury |
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The Wirral Programme Club's annual survey of non league programmes saw Eynesbury top the UCL section of the poll for the fourth time in five years. Rovers also finished 100th equal nationally from an entry of 1,217 clubs. Daventry's issue was adjudged the best in the Premier.
Full results: Eynesbury 156 points, Daventry 133, Boston 120, Huntingdon 119, Blackstones 118, Potton 114, Newport Pagnell 112, Holbeach 111, Woodford 107, Deeping & Sleaford 96, Northampton Spencer 95, Desborough & Whitworths 94, Raunds 89, Cogenhoe 87, Bourne 86, Eye 85, Higham 83, Sileby 78, Buckingham 77, Thrapston 76, Corby Cottingham 72, ON Chenecks & St Ives 70, Harrowby 69, Wootton 65, Bugbrooke, Burton PW & Kempston 53. |
| Eye set for name change |
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Two seasons after leaving the village Eye United are set to kick off the 2005-06 season under a new name. The Chestnut Avenue club will be known as Peterborough Northern Star with effect from 1st June 2005. |
| Awards doubles for Potton and Sleaford |
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The April/May awards saw a double success for Potton and Sleaford.
Royals managerial duo Dick Newman and Roy Bloxham collected their third Premier Manager of the Month award of the season after collecting 22 points from eight league matches and winning three cup finals while Brett Donnelly's eleven goal haul in domestic action earned him the Goalscorer of the Month award. Ten points from four matches earned Sleaford manager Brian Rowland his first Division One Manager of the Month prize. Sleaford goalkeeper Andy Scott conceded only two goals in those games to win the Hereward Sports Goalkeeper of the Month prize. |
| Daventry Charity Cup held up |
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The closing stages of the Daventry Charity Cup has been held over until pre season after holders Woodford and Long Buckby were unable to agree a date for their semi-final. Southern Premier side Banbury await the winners in the final. |
| Stones win Ancaster Cup |
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Blackstones Reserves won the Ancaster Cup, beating their Deeping counterparts 3-0 in the final at the Abbey Lawn on 14 May. Andy Boome nroke the deadlock on the hour with a Scott Carter brace sealing victory. |
| 2004-05 leading goalscorers |
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Premier Division
Brett Donnelly (Potton) 41; Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 33; Steve Kuhne (Potton) 28; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer) 27; Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 25; Danny Matson (Boston) 24; Nicky Gordon (Woodford), Darek Jozwiak (Wootton) 19; Jamie Gilsenan (Blackstones), Ashley Stevens (Deeping) 18; Kevin Childs (Holbeach), Darren Collins (Cogenhoe) 17; Ricky Hailstone (Yaxley), Reuben Max-Grant (Buckingham), Dave Stone (Daventry) 16; Paul Garrett (Stotfold) 15. Division One Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 32; James Daldy (Whitworths) 31; Paul Carey (Eynesbury) 27; Glen Turner (Sileby) 23; James Westley (Higham) 22; Chris Ewles (St Ives) 21; Adam Taylor (Sileby) 20; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 19; Matt Collins (Blisworth) 18; James Blake (Thrapston), Paul Sloley (Bugbrooke) 16; Matt Kent (Kempston) 15. Reserve Division One Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 25; Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 19; Neil Smith (Stotfold) 17; Paul Pickering (Northampton Spencer) 16; Matt Goodwin (Sileby), James Picillo (Yaxley), Craig Sampson (Northampton Spencer) 15. Reserve Division Two Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 30; Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 21; Paul Currier (Ford Sports) 16; Travis Aitken (Whitworths) 15. |
| Reprieve for Stewarts & Lloyds |
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The late withdrawal of Division One champions Sileby Rangers' application for promotion to the Premier Division has seen next to bottom Stewarts & Lloyds reprieved from relegation from the top flight.
In accordance with the provisions of League Rule 13, third placed St Ives Town have been promoted from Division One with Premier bottom markers Daventry Town making the reverse journey after four seasons in the top flight. In the Reserve Divisions promotion and relegation has been applied on a two up two down basis. Reserve Division One bottom two Olney Town and Bugbrooke St Michaels drop down with Reserve Division Two champions Ford Sports and runners up Wellingborough Whitworths, the latter returning twelve months after relegation, elevated to the higher grade. |
| End of the line for Corby Cottingham |
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Corby Cottingham have withdrawn from Division One of the Eagle Bitter UCL bringing to an end twenty six years of membership of the league, which has seen the club enjoy considerable success at Division One level.
Last summer the club left its long standing Berryfield Road home in the village to play at the Rockingham Triangle home of Corby Town. While providing the club with greatly improved playing facilities, the switch also had a negative effect with a reduction in the number of committee members. This lack of active workers, coupled with increases in the costs of hiring the Rockingham Triangle pitch and independent training facilities, has prompted the club to regretfully close down at the end of the 2004-05 season. |
| Yaxley complete historic treble |
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Yaxley's first ever success in the Huntingdonshore Premier Cup on 10 May completed a clean sweep of the three top Huntingdonshire FA trophies, an achievement only done once before, by Eynesbury in 1991. The Cuckoos were in devastating form as they swept aside Langford 6-0 at St Neots' Rowley Park ground. Mark Paul was the star of the show with four goals for Yaxley, he also set up the other two goals for Simon Acton and Lee Blewett. |
| Royals win North Beds Charity Cup |
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Potton won their second trophy of the season on 7 May, beating Arlesey Athletic 2-0 at Langford to win the North Beds Charity Cup. Brothers Brett and Luke Donnelly were the Royals marksmen at Forde Park. |
| Cogenhoe's crown at last |
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After several near misses in recent seasons Cogenhoe finally won their first Premier Division championship on 3rd May as they held nearest challengers Potton to a 2-2 draw at The Hollow.
It was Cogenhoe's set piece expertise which proved crucial in the decisive encounter. Nick Hodges headed the 18th minute opener from a Jamie Wright corner, and after Luke Donnelly had levelled with a header from a Mark Bryant free kick six minutes later, Elliott Sandy restored Cogenhoe's advantage three minutes before the interval after the Royals failed to clear Brian Page's free kick. Potton laid siege to the visiting goal in the second half but could score only once, Brett Donnelly converting a Gary Jackson pass after 73 minutes for his 51st goal of the season in all competitions. Before the equaliser Cogenhoe goalkeeper Pete Earl thwarted Steve Kuhne and Brett Donnelly while Kuhne also fired against the post. When Simon Underwood was sent off after 79 minutes Cogenhoe faced an uphill task but they held on to the lead thanks to a fine save by Earl from James Hatch and follow up goalline clearance by Wright from Brett Donnelly. |
| Yaxley retain Hunts Senior Cup |
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Yaxley retained the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup on 2nd May with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Ortonians in the final at St Neots. Chris Gospel headed the Cuckoos in front from a Ricky Hailstone free kick just five minutes in and after that it was one time Southampton striker Mark Paul who stole the show. He set up a 25th minute tap in for Simon Acton and killed off the contest with the third Yaxley goal, a stunning volley from the edge of the box. The Cuckoos completed the scoring seven minutes from time, Paul firing home after a fine run from Dale Watkins. |
| Desborough takes the Higham reins |
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Higham have appointed former Whitworths manager Mark Desborough as their new boss. Desborough spent two years at the Flourmen's helm, leading them to the runners-up position in Division One this season. Desborough replaces Ben Lord, who is leaving the Lankies to work in the United States. Assistant Toni Catalano has also stepped down, with long serving goalkeeper John Perry named as Desborough's assistant at Vine Hill Drive. |
| Royals and Cooks set for Tuesday showdown |
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Potton and Cogenhoe will meet on 3 May at The Hollow in a winner takes all showdown for the Premier title. Both contenders had comfortable 30 April wins. The Cooks, who need only a draw in the final match to put their name on the Denham-Parker trophy for the first time, won 4-1 at Daventry with two goals apiece from Simon Underwood and Darren Collins, Dave Stone replying for bottom markers Town. The Royals made short work of Ford Sports running out 3-0 home winners with Brett Donnelly, Stuart Lochhead and Steve Kuhne sharing the goals.
Holbeach finished third despite a 2-1 home defeat by Woodford. Ben Milner's spot kick and a Carl Standen effort gave the Reds the win after they trailed at the interval to a Darren Cundy opener. Yaxley ended the campaign in fourth after closing the season with a 5-1 reverse at Buckingham. Rory Hunter, Moses Olaleye, Junior George, Lewis Reid and Dom Marsala shared the Robins' goals with John Firman replying with a late Cuckoos consolation. Second half goals from Jason Sedlan and Mark Foster gave Harrowby a 2-0 home win over St Neots, enabling the Lincolnshire side to claim fifth place. Stotfold and Blackstones drew 0-0 at Roker while a goal in each half from Ashley Stevens gave Deeping a 2-0 win over visiting Raunds. Darren Frost gave Northampton Spencer an early lead against Boston but the Poachers hit back to win 5-1. Danny Matson and Paul Goodhand scored two apiece with Ross Don-Duncan also on target. Wootton were 3-0 home winners over Desborough with Ben Chambers, Steve Gentle and Leon Cashman on the scoresheet. |
| Saints set for step up |
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St Ives look set for promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in their history after clinching third place in Division One on 30 April. The Saints needed a win at Bugbrooke to pip Eye, but United, having gone seven months without defeat at home, suffered a second Chestnut Avenue reverse in three days. Blisworth avenged their recent Northants Junior Cup final defeat with a 3-2 success, thanks to three first half goals, two from Kevin Eyre and one from Matt Collins. Ian Fovargue and Dino Salerno replied for Eye who had to settle for fourth place. Over at Birds Close St Ives gave another nervous display and after home keeper Steve Spruels kept Bugbrooke in it the Badgers took a 76th minute lead. Defender Will Fordham headed an 88th minute equaliser for St Ives although the Chestnut Avenue outcome would have seen them home and dry anyway. |
| Yaxley land Reserve One crown |
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Yaxley are Reserve Division One champions - they clinched the title with a 2-1 win at Cogenhoe on 30 April. Scott Cunningham gave the Cuckoos a 37th minute lead but Ashley Bradshaw hauled the Cooks on terms two minutews past the hour. James Picillo's strike eleven minutes from time won the title for Yaxley. Rothwell Town had to settle for the runners-up medals after a 0-0 draw at Sileby. |
| Sileby take title - Whitworths second |
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Sileby were crowned Division One champions on 28 April after Eye lost 1-0 to Irchester whose matchwinner was Damian Grant. Whitworths finish second while St Ives could still claim a promotion spot by winning their final match at Bugbrooke.
On 26 April Higham and Blisworth drew 3-3 at Vine Hill Drive. Two Andy Munday goals and one from James Westley saw the Lankies open up a three goal interval lead, a Matt Collins brace and Hamish Carmody effort salvaging a point for the Railwaymen. |
| Potton march on - Shopmates safe |
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The 26 April action in the Premier Division saw Potton maintain their pursuit of Cogenhoe with a 3-0 home win over Harrowby. Mark Bryant, Glen Crook and Brett Donnelly took the Royals to within two points of the Cooks with two to play. Raunds secured Premier status by drawing 1-1 at Buckingham, Adam Hancock the Shopmates marksman with Lewis Reid replying. Daventry face a bottom two finish after crashing 4-1 to Woodford who had hat trick hero Nicky Gordon and Tom Fountain on target, Luke Pritchard the Town scorer. Desborough won for the first time in 14 games, 2-0 at Deeping with Tony Page and Tom Mills on the scoresheet.
Two goals from manager Shaun Keeble and one from David Cobb gave Holbeach a 3-1 success at Wootton on 27 April, Chris Johnson replying for Blue Cross, while the 28 April action saw Moses Olaleye and Ian Trott on target as Buckingham won 2-1 at Stotfold whose marksman was Wes Byrne. |
| Fords crowned Reserve Two champions |
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Ford Sports are champions of Reserve Division Two. Chris Trill, Richard Price and Tommy Waldock shared the goals as the Motormen won 3-1 at Irchester on 26 April to put one hand on the title. Challengers Whitworths drew 1-1 at Thrapston the same night as a late Travis Aitken goal earned the Flourmen a promotion winning point, but another Whitworths draw, 0-0 at home to Huntingdon on 28 April, ended the Flourmen's title hopes. |
| Another final for Cuckoos |
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Yaxley reached the Huntingdonshire Premier Cup final on 26 April, beating Stotfold 3-1 to book a final showdown with Langford at St Neots on 10 May. Dale Watkins, Mark Paul and James Picillo took the Cuckoos through after they had trailed to a Paul Garrett spot kick.
Northampton Spencer reached the last four of the Daventry Charity Cup on 28 April beating Crick 5-0. Darren Frost scored four times and Josh Urquhart once. |
| Potton keep up chase - bottom three all win |
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Potton kept up their pursuit of pacesetters Cogenhoe with a 5-3 win at Long Buckby on 23 April. The Royals were twice pegged back by Buckby in the first half before taking charge after the break. Brett Donnelly took his season's domestic goal tally to 38 with a brace, while Gary Watts, Bucks manager Aidy Mann with an own goal, and Paul Donnelly completed Potton's nap hand, Buckby replying through Jon Crockett, Justin McKenzie and Dave Drinkwater. Yaxley, contenders for the crown until the last couple of weeks, look like missing out on a top three finish after going down 3-0 at Woodford whose marksmen were Ben Milner, Adam Knight and Nicky Gordon. Holbeach are one point behind the Cuckoos with two matches in hand after a 3-1 home defeat of Ford Sports. A goal either side of half time from David Cobb and Tom Gosling effort gave the Tigers the points with Mark Drake replying for the Motormen.
The three relegation candidates all won. Daventry trailed to a Martin Wormall goal for visitors Harrowby at the break but fought back to won 2-1 with a Dave Stone double. Nonetheless Town returned to the foot of the table as Stewarts & Lloyds found their goal touch to demolish visitors St Neots 5-1. Barry Dellar's early strike for the Saints was quickly cancelled out by Michael Byrne and further goals from Derek Simmons, Byrne, Matty O'Neill and Pete Sneddon completed S&L's nap hand. Raunds are three points clear of the drop zone after a 4-0 Kiln Park rout of Desborough, which saw Duane St John, Adam Hancock and two goal James Fox on the scoresheet. Bourne could be casting some anxious glances over their shoulders, their 1-0 defeat at Buckingham to a Lee Orcheston goal means they aren't yet mathematically safe. Deeping ended a run of four successive defeats by beating Newport Pagnell 4-2 at Outgang Road. Two Ross Nichols goals and one apiece from Ashley Stevens and Guy Last gave Rangers the points, Dominic Lawless and Jamie Hopps replying for the Swans. The day's only top flight stalemate saw Boston and Stotfold draw 1-1 at Tattershall Road, Kris Jones and Gareth Cottenden the respective marksmen. |
| Sileby champagne kept on ice |
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Sileby missed out on wrapping up the Division One championship on 23 April as a 48th minute Carl Sedlan header from a corner gave visitors Sleaford a 1-0 Fernie Fields success. Eye have two games to play and need a combined winning margin of eleven goals to deprive Rangers of the championship. Second met third at London Road and Whitworths edged out Sleaford 1-0 thanks to a 43rd minute Tom Francis goal. The Saints have only themselves to blame after failing to test stand in keeper Steve Bicknell following Kris Line's 14th minute dismissal for handling outside the box. St Ives' promotion hopes now hang on them winning their last match at Bugbrooke on 30 April and Eye slipping up in one of their last two games.
Eynesbury rounded off their campaign with a 3-0 home win over ON Chenecks, Paul Childerley, Dave Fisk and Paul Carey all on target in the opening half hour, while Irchester moved into the top half of the table with a 2-1 victory at Burton Park. Early goals from Damian Grant and Karl Guy gave the Romans the points with Craig Townsend replying for Park Wanderers. |
| Reserve title races go to the wire |
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The championship races look set to go to the wire in both Reserve Division One and Two. In the top flight Yaxley missed the chance to wrap up the title on 23 April when they could only draw 1-1 at home to Olney, while challengers Rothwell closed the gap at the top to a single point with a 2-0 home win over Deeping. The sides have a game apiece to play, both hit the road on 30 April with the Cuckoos travelling to Cogenhoe and the Bones visiting Sileby.
In Reserve Division One free scoring leaders Ford Sports secured promotion with a 2-0 success at Thrapston, while third placed Whitworths need just one point from three games to overhaul long term leaders ON Chenecks who lost their last three games and look set to miss out on a top flight place. The Flourmen could clinch promotion on Tuesday when they visit Thrapston, having won 4-0 at Eye on 23 April. The relegation places in Reserve Division One have now been confirmed. Midweek results confirmed the demise of 2003 champions Bugbrooke while Olney's point at Yaxley on 23rd April wasn't enough to save them as Desborough secured their top flight future with a 2-1 home win over former title contenders Northampton Spencer. |
| Shootout success for Eye |
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Eye beat Blisworth 9-8 in a penalty shootout to win the Northants Junior Cup for the first time since 1982 at Rushden & Diamonds' Nene Park stadium on 21st April. The match proper finished 2-2 after extra time with the Railwaymen twice battling back to level after Eye took the lead. Steve Phillips gave United a 5th minute lead with Hamish Carmody levelling on 19 minutes. Ashley Favell restored Eye's lead after 57 minutes only for a last minute Pete Gregory goal to give Blisworth a temporary reprieve. Twenty penalties were needed to settle the shootout outcome with Paul Smith scoring the winning kick for Eye, James Moore missing the final Railwaymen kick. |
| Potton win Knockout Cup |
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Potton collected the first of a potential four trophies on offer on 20th April when they carried off the Knockout Cup with a 1-0 win over first time finalists Woodford at Cogenhoe's Compton Park. The decisive goal arrived eight minutes from time when Woodford goalkeeper Nick Bussey spilled a Mark Bryant corner and top scorer Brett Donnelly fired home. The Royals had to survive the last four minutes with ten men after substitute James Hatch was red carded for a second caution. |
| Yaxley complete hat trick |
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Yaxley Reserves completed a hat trick of Huntingdonshire Scott-Gatty Cup successes on 20th April at Huntingdon. For the third successive year they beat St Neots Reserves 2-0 in the final, with goals from James Richardson after 35 minutes and James Picillo after 59. |
| Funding award for Holbeach |
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Holbeach United have been awarded a grant of £90,160 by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund. The award is for the construction of a 140 seater stand in place of the current 70 year old wooden structure at Carters Park, the construction of dugouts, toilets, players' tunnel and perimeter fencing for the ground. |
| Davidson in St Neots exit |
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St Neots manager Kenny Davidson and assistant Paul Bryant have resigned after just four and a half months at the Rowley Park helm. Davidson switched from league rivals Wootton in November to replace Arlesey bound Jon Taylor.
Taking caretaker charge for the rest of the season are former boss Chris Howell and Barry Cavilla. |
| Harrowby awarded Lincs Cup |
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For the second season running the outcome of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup A has been decided in the committee room of the county FA. Harrowby lost the final to Winterton in a penalty shootout but have now been awarded the trophy after it emerged that Winterton had fielded ineligible players in their success. The outcome mirrors that a year ago when Blackstones were awarded the prize after conquerors Barton fielded ineligible players in their final victory! |
| Yaxley awarded FSIF grant |
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Yaxley have been awarded a grant of £97,500 by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund. The award will enable the Cuckoos to upgrade the existing vehicular and pedestrian access to Leading Drove, install a replacement floodlighting system and install a security fence around the ground. |
| Kempston hope for Brooking visit |
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Kempston hope that former West Ham and England midfielder Trevor Brooking will be available to official open the new Hillgrounds facilities in July. Work on the the new changing rooms and spectator facilities is nearing completion while work on the dri play area is expected to start at the end of April. |
| Thrapston set fund raising target |
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Thrapston are setting up a programme of fund raising events over the summer with the aim of raising £45,000 towards their planned ground improvements at Chancery Lane. The total cost is in the region of £270,000. |
| March award winners |
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The March Manager of the Month award winners are Potton duo Dick Newman and Roy Bloxham in the Premier Division and Wellingborough Whitworths' Mark Desborough in Division One.
Brett Donnelly of Potton is the Goalscorer of the Month with an eight goal haul while Yaxley goalkeeper Jody Vincent is the latest winner of the Goalkeeper of the Month award, after conceding just two goals in five March matches. |
| Everdell reaches Saints milestone |
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St Ives player manager Warren Everdell reached a personal milestone when his side took on Sileby on 2nd April - he reached the 600 appearance mark in first team UCL appearances for the club. Of players currently playing in the league only Boston Town's Lee Rippin is thought to have made more appearances for one club. |
| Newport advertise managerial posts |
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Newport Pagnell have advertised the managerial positions for both the first and reserve teams. The senior post has seen three changes already in a year with Wayne Spencer and Jimmy Stoyles taking charge late last season after Danny James's resignation. Stoyles then had a spell in sole command after Spencer quit, and then Janes returned after Stoyles was axed from the post. |
| Tansley steps down at Spencer |
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Northampton Spencer manager Bob Tansley has resigned after three years at the Kingsthorpe Mill helm. He gave the club long service as a player and managed the reserve side before taking over from Gary Sargent in the summer of 2002. Assistant Micky Heath will take temporary charge for the remainder of the season. |
| Title contenders march on - shock win for Daventry |
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The 16th April top flight action saw wins for the two championship contenders. Leaders Cogenhoe didn't have things all their own way in a 3-2 home win over Bourne. Nick Hodges, Darren Collins and Simon Underwood gave the Cooks victory with Shamir Patel and Scott Spearink replying. Potton were more convincing as they saw off Boston Town 4-1 at The Hollow. Nathan Iley's opener for Boston only sparked the Royals into life as Brett Donnelly's hat trick and a Ben Smith effort saw Potton pick up all three points. Holbeach missed out on third slot after drawing 1-1 at Woodford, Nicky Gordon's opener for the Reds matched by a David Cobb reply.
Ben Foster, Ian Pearce and Ian Waldock shared the goals as Ford Sports won 3-0 at Newport Pagnell while manager Graham Drury scored a late clincher for Harrowby as they beat hosts Buckingham 3-2. Jamie Clarke scored the other two Arrows goals with Rory Hunter and Reuben Max-Grant the home marksmen. Long Buckby demolished St Neots 6-0 at Station Road with two Justin McKenzie goals and singles from Fazel Koriya, Jon Crockett, Adie Greatrex and Darren Harmon. Desborough and Wootton drew 1-1 at the Waterworks Field, Matt Curtis and Darek Jozwiak the respective scorers while Northampton Spencer caretaker boss Micky Heath had a winning start as Darren Frost's goal gave the Millers a 1-0 win over Deeping. Daventry are still battling away for survival, they surprised Stotfold 3-0 at Elderstubbs with two goals from Dave Stone and one from Dave Lancaster. |
| Slips for contenders |
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None of the three Division One title contenders in action on 16th April managed to win. Sileby though are almost certain of promotion after drawing 1-1 at Corby Cottingham. Glen Turner's 23rd goal of the season gave Rangers a vital point after Lee Martin opened the scoring for Cottingham. Whitworths lost for the first time in 14 games going down 2-1 at Higham who had Dave Kew and James Westley on target before Sol Benjamin replied. A late Will Fordham goal gave St Ives a 1-1 home draw with Eynesbury who led through Kirk Kidd.
Kevin Eyre and two goal Matt Collins saw Blisworth to a 3-2 win at Rothwell Corinthians who replied with a Tim Buxton own goal and Dave Briffa effort, while Sleaford thrashed Kempston 5-0 with a Jamie Shaw hat trick and singles from Paul Reece and Michael Ward. Paul Sloley gave Bugbrooke a 1-0 win at Olney while a brave Burton Park comeback earned a 2-2 draw with ON Chenecks. Stefan Tinworth's brace cancelled out early visiting goals from Matt Broomes and Scott Barczewski. |
| Leading scorers at 14 April |
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Premier Division
Brett Donnelly (Potton) 32; Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 31; Steve Kuhne (Potton) 27; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer), Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 25; Danny Matson (Boston) 21; Jamie Gilsenan (Blackstones), Darek Jozwiak (Wootton) 18; Kevin Childs (Holbeach) 17; Ricky Hailstone (Yaxley) 16; Paul Garrett (Stotfold), Reuben Max-Grant (Buckingham), Ashley Stevens (Deeping) 15. Division One James Daldy (Whitworths) 31; Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 29; Paul Carey (Eynesbury) 26; Glen Turner (Sileby) 22; Chris Ewles (St Ives) 21; Adam Taylor (Sileby), James Westley (Higham) 20; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 18; James Blake (Thrapston) 16; Matt Kent (Kempston), Paul Sloley (Bugbrooke) 15. Reserve Division One Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 22; Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 19; Paul Pickering, Craig Sampson (Northampton Spencer) 15; Matt Goodwin (Sileby), James Picillo (Yaxley) 14. Reserve Division Two Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 29; Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 18; Paul Currier (Ford Sports) 16; Dale Barham (Spalding) 14. |
| Potton reach third final |
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A superb Potton comeback on 11th April saw them reach their third cup final of the season. The Royals overturned a two goal interval deficit to beat Barton Rovers 3-2 to reach the Hinchingbrooke Cup final. Brett Donnelly scored a last minute winner to sink his old club after James Hatch and Steve Kuhne hauled the Royals on terms.
Ford Sports won 3-0 at Sileby on 12th April to reach the semi-final of the Daventry Charity Cup. Hat trick hero Ben Foster made the difference on the night. |
| Extra time heartbreak for Raunds |
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Raunds lost 4-1 to Rothwell Town in the Northants Hillier Senior Cup final on 12th April, after victory was snatched from their grasp three minutes from the end of normal time. Mike McKenzie's 42nd minute effort looked set to give the Shopmates a third higher grade scalp, but after Gavin Fitzgerald was dismissed for a second caution the ten men of Raunds were forced back and three minutes from time Kirk Master's well struck effort gave the Bones a lifeline. Mick Tolton punished a goalkeeping error in the first minute of extra time and further goals followed from Master on 95 and ex-Shopmate Lee Quincey on 112. |
| Kuhne keeps Potton in title contention |
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A Steve Kuhne brace saw Potton win their derby at Wootton 2-0 on 13th April, the Royals remain in the Premier title hunt. 24 hours before Yaxley's top two hopes suffered a setback as Stotfold won 2-0 at Leading Drove with Gary Walker and Scott Grant on target. Holbeach are now on the Cuckoos heels after a 2-0 home win over St Neots, David Cobb and Darren Cundy the Tigers marksmen. Woodford and Desborough drew 1-1 at Byfield Road, Neil Champlovier and Matty Curtis the respective scorers, while a Michael Byrne double saw S&L to a 2-0 home win over Buckingham.
Eye's Division One title bid faltered on 12th April as they lost 4-3 to Kempston, who had debutant Ashley Devereux on target twice. Matt Kent and Ashley Banks were the other Kempston scorers with two goal Danny Bowyer and Shaun Skerritt replying for Eye. ON Chenecks were 3-0 home winners over Olney with Darren Smith, Peter Green and Jamie Nuttall on target. The following night Corby Cottingham beat Thrapston 3-1 at the Rockingham Triangle. Steve Brydon, Paul Doherty and Lee Martin netted for Cottingham with Dave Harding the visiting marksman. |
| Stotfold win Reserve Knockout Cup |
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Stotfold won the Reserve Knockout Cup for the second time on 13th April, beating first time finalists Deeping 4-2 at St Neots. Two Scott Rennie goals and one apiece from Neil Smith and Kane Dougherty gave the Eagles the trophy with Paul Kirk and Andy Ellis replying for Rangers. |
| Cooks and Royals stay on course |
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The two Premier title contenders both notched up wins on 9th April. Leaders Cogenhoe won 2-0 at Boston Town with a Brian Page effort and Matty Price own goal. Potton demolished struggling hosts Daventry 5-0 with a Glen Crook brace and singles from Nathan Buckland, Brett Donnelly and Ben Smith. Fourth placed Holbeach edged out Stotfold 2-1 at Carters Park, a Dave Cobb penalty and Kevin Childs strike overhauling Paul Garrett's opener for the Eagles. Ford Sports produced the comeback of the day to win 3-2 at Harrowby who led with a first half Martin Wormall brace before Adrian Pestell started the fightback with Mark Drake's double completing the visitors' comeback.
Woodford were 2-0 home winners over Deeping thanks to a Nicky Gordon double strike. A Jamie Gilsenan goal gave Blackstones a 1-0 success at Northampton Spencer while goals from Adam Hancock and Jed Ainge saw Raunds to a 2-0 win at St Neots. The Shopmates are now unbeaten in four matches and six points clear of the drop zones. |
| Whitworths move up to second |
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Whitworths were the only title contenders in Division One action on 9th April and they moved up to second place with a 3-0 home win over Corby Cottingham. Two goals from James Daldy and one from Paul Smith gave the Flourmen the points. Blisworth maintained fifth place with a 2-0 home win over ON Chenecks, Neil Lovell and Nicky Woodroffe on target. Sleaford were impressive 4-0 winners at Eynesbury with two goals from Jamie Shaw and one apiece from Robin Holderness and Paul Reece.
Huntingdon manager Andy Rossi's seven year reign ended with a 2-1 reverse at Rothwell Corinthians who took the points with goals from Justin Betts and Dave Briffa, Carl Foreman the Huntingdon marksman. First half goals from Ben Lord, Andy Munday and Jason Kew saw Higham to a 3-2 success at Thrapston who replied after the interval through Scott Atkinson and Sam Duxbury, while Bugbrooke beat Burton Park 3-1 at Birds Close with three first half goals, two from Paul Sloley and one from Tom O'Brien. Stefan Tinworth replied for Park Wanderers. |
| Woodford through to first final |
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Woodford goalkeeper Dave Marlow's saves from Paul Stanley and Willem Kone in the shootout took the Reds into their first Knockout Cup final as they beat Buckingham 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Adam Knight's first half opener for Woodford was matched by Lewis Reid ten minutes from time. In the shootout Terry Muckleberg, Stuart Haynes, Lewis Travers and Neil Champlovier scored for Woodford with Moses Olaleye and Craig Caldwell-Smith replying for the Robins. |
| Shootout despair for Arrows |
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Harrowby suffered another dose of county cup heartbreak as Winterton ran out 5-4 shootout winners in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup A final at Gainsborough. The match proper finished 1-1 after extra time, Marc Huggins' first half opener matched by a Jonny Leigh reply after the break. Jason Harrison's miss in the shootout proved costly for Harrowby as their Northern Counties East opponents converted all five of their kicks. |
| Potton emerge as genuine contenders |
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The 5 April action saw Potton emerge as a genuine threat to Cogenhoe at the top of the Premier. Their 2-1 win at Leading Drove left Yaxley all but mathematically out of the hunt though. Steve Kuhne and Glen Crook were on target for the Royals with Scott Cunningham the home marksman. Raunds' survival hopes were boosted as they won 1-0 at Ford Sports with a Ben Armstrong goal while a Kevin Childs double gave Holbeach a 3-2 win at Desborough. Tom Gosling was the other Tigers marksman with Mike McConnell and Eddie Mills on the scoresheet for Desborough. Northampton Spencer's Scott Coleman netted twice as the Millers drew 2-2 at home to St Neots whose marksmen were Pete Saunders and Damian Matthews. |
| Transfers to 31/3/05 |
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202. John Paul Duncliffe - Yaxley to Deeping
203. James Baxter - Eye to Bourne 204. Tom Liberatore - Blackstones to Deeping 205. Gareth Jones - Daventry to Deeping 206. Ian Trott - St Neots to Buckingham 207. Nathan Hoad - Rothwell Corinthians to Rothwell Town |
| Leading goalscorers at 5/4/05 |
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Premier Division
Brett Donnelly (Potton) 31; Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 29; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer), Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 25; Steve Kuhne (Potton) 24; Danny Matson (Boston) 21; Darek Jozwiak (Wootton) 18; Jamie Gilsenan (Blackstones) 17; Kevin Childs (Holbeach), Ricky Hailstone (Yaxley) 16; Reuben Max-Grant (Buckingham), Ashley Stevens (Deeping) 15. Division One: James Daldy (Whitworths) 29; Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 27; Paul Carey (Eynesbury) 26; Glen Turner (Sileby) 22; Chris Ewles (St Ives) 21; Adam Taylor (Sileby), James Westley (Higham) 20; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 17; James Blake (Thrapston) 16. |
| Leading Reserve Goalscorers at 2/4/05 |
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Reserve Division One
Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 21; Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 19; Paul Pickering, Craig Sampson (Northampton Spencer) 15, Matt Goodwin (Sileby), James Picillo (Yaxley) 13, Scott Cunningham (Yaxley), James Goode (Deeping), Adam Hancock (Raunds), Neil Smith (Stotfold) 12. Reserve Division Two Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 25; Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 18; Dale Barham (Spalding), Paul Currier (Ford Sports) 14, Dean King (Irchester) 13, Travis Aitken (Whitworths), Darren Edey (Spalding) 12. |
| Change of semi date and venue |
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The second Knockout Cup semi-final between Buckingham and Woodford, postponed on 6 April due to the waterlogged state of the Ford Meadow pitch, has been rearranged for Thursday 7 April and will now be played at Ford Sports' Royal Oak Way ground. |
| Royals reach Knockout Cup final |
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Potton reached their first Knockout Cup final in 32 years with a 2-1 semi-final success at Harrowby on 2nd April. Adam Buckley gave the Arrows a 26th minute advantage but Glen Crook levelled seven minutes into the second half and Brett Donnelly won it for Potton after 73 minutes. |
| Bottom three level on points |
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After the 2nd April matches the bottom three in the Premier were all tied on 28 points. Raunds moved off the foot of the chart with a 1-0 home win over Long Buckby, manager Nick Ashby the Shopmates' matchwinner. Daventry are still the right side of the dividing line after a 1-0 loss at pacesetters Cogenhoe who had Elliott Sandy on target, but S&L are now bottom after seeing a win over Yaxley slip through their grasp late on. Michael Byrne and Chris Logan twice gave S&L the lead either side of Chris Lenton's equaliser, but Lee Blewett scored the Cuckoos' second in the 90th minute before Mark Paul made it 3-2 to Yaxley ten minutes into stoppage time!
Holbeach beat Newport Pagnell 3-2 at Carters Park, Kevin Childs scoring two and Nick Keeble one to get the better of Marc Redsull and John Thorpe strikes for the Swans. A Scott Munton own goal, allied to late efforts from Wes Byrne and Gary Walker gave Stotfold a 3-0 victory at Desborough who have gone into freefall in recent weeks. Boston Town won 4-3 at St Neots thanks to a Danny Matson brace and singles from Paul Goodhand and Ross Don-Duncan. Barry Dellar, Nicky Hurst and Cameron Clark replied for the Saints. Reuben Max-Grant gave Buckingham a 1-0 victory at Deeping while an Adam Wigley double and Darren Frost strike gave Northampton Spencer a 3-1 success at Blackstones who had Jamie Gilsenan on the scoresheet. Ford Sports and Bourne drew 1-1 at Royal Oak Way, Ian Waldock and Chris Gray the respective marksmen while Wootton and Woodford also shared two goals at Weston Park, Chris Johnson on target for Blue Cross with Tony Burt replying for the Reds. |
| Sileby regain the initiative |
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Division One leaders Sileby came out on top in the division's big match, winning 3-1 at nearest challengers St Ives. Lee Purser's opener and a Glen Turner brace gave Rangers the points, Liam Kennett replying with a penalty consolation. Eye and Whitworths now trail the Saints by just a single point. Eye won 4-0 at Olney with two goals from Danny Bowyer and one apiece from Dino Salerno and Darren Bradley while Sean Lonergan was the Flourmen's matchwinner as they pipped Rothwell Corinthians 1-0 at London Road.
Fifth placed Blisworth drew 2-2 at Sleaford, Jamie Shaw and Paul Ward earning the home side a point after Matt Collins and Hamish Carmody netted for the Railwaymen. The spoils were also shared at the Rockingham Triangle, Corby Cottingham and Irchester drawing 2-2. Dave Trimble and Steve Brydon were on target for Cottingham with Jason Vaughan and Damian Grant the Romans'marksmen. Paul Carey gave Eynesbury a 1-0 success at ON Chenecks while it was a day to remember for Burton Park who beat Thrapston 3-2 at Chancery Lane. Sean Robinson twice gave Burton the lead only for Sam Duxbury and James Blake to level, but a late Jake Bailey effort gave Park Wanderers their first win of the season at the 31st attempt! |
| Desborough set to step down at Whitworths |
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Whitworths' plans for expansion will mean the departure of manager Mark Desborough at the end of the current campaign. The Flourmen are planning the introduction of youth and ladies teams next season and are looking for their club manager to oversee all the club's teams. Desborough's work commitments prevent him from taking on this expanded role, so his two year managerial tenure will conclude at the end of the season. |
| Easter defeats open up Division One title race |
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With only St Ives of the Division One title contenders winning on Easter Monday the championship race looks set to go to the wire. Chris Ewles and Dan Pilsworth gave the Saints a 2-0 success at Huntingdon, and they trail Sileby by one point with a game in hand after Rangers lost 3-2 at ON Chenecks. Two goals from Dan Clarke and one from Jamie Nuttall set up the surprise of the day, Graham Cottle and Grant Stewart on target for Sileby. Eye missed the opportunity to close the gap going down 3-1 at Sleaford who had Jason Partridge and two goal Paul Reece on target in their victory, Dino Salerno replying from the penalty spot. An injury time Ben Holley goal gave Whitworths a 1-1 draw at Irchester who led through Gary Cotter's first half strike.
Tim Buxton and Hamish Carmody saw Blisworth to a 2-0 home win over Bugbrooke while Thrapston found their goal touch to beat hosts Higham 5-2. Martin Cain's double and singles from James Blake, Sam Duxbury and manager Lee Howard gave the visitors all three points, Chris Martin and Dave Kew replying for the Lankies. Rothwell Corinthians and Eynesbury drew 3-3 at Sergeant's Lawn. Tom Greasley and two goal Dave Briffa netted for Corinths with Dave Fisk, Jamie Donald and Barry Albone on target for Rovers. |
| Cogenhoe and Potton march on |
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Cogenhoe looked every inch champions as they demolished near neighbours Northampton Spencer 6-1 to go ten points clear at the top of the Premier Division on Easter Monday. Three Richard Turner goals, two from Darren Collins and a Brian Page spot kick gave the Cooks a big win, Darren Frost scoring from the spot for the struggling Millers. Yaxley dropped two points in a 0-0 draw at Raunds, but Potton now appear the biggest challengers to the leaders after edging out Stotfold 2-1 at The Hollow. Brett Donnelly and Stuart Lochhead won it for Potton after they trailed to a Gary Walker opener. Holbeach are back in the top four after a 1-1 home draw with Boston, Rob Speechley and Paul Goodhand the respective scorers.
One of the day's shocks saw Bourne win 2-0 at Harrowby with Jim Foreman and Miles Mason on the scoresheet while there was a minor surprise at Deeping where Rangers lost 3-2 to Blackstones. Jamie Gilsenan, Marcus Keirle and Richard Nelson gave Stones the points, Ross Nichols and Gianni Santoro the home marksmen. St Neots manager Kenny Davidson enjoyed a winning return to his old club Wootton as Danny Griggs, Pete Saunders and Simon Claridge saw the Saints to a 3-1 win, Ben Chambers replying. Former Sunderland star Lee Howey scored a late winner for Long Buckby as they pipped Woodford 2-1 at Station Road. Justin McKenzie was the other Bucks scorer after Tom Fountain opened the scoring for the Reds. Tom Hill was the Newport Pagnell matchwinner as they beat visiting Buckingham 1-0 while a Derek Simmons goal after just 35 seconds saw Stewarts & Lloyds to a 1-0 success at Desborough. Fellow strugglers Daventry were on the wrong end of the individual performance of the day as Ford Sports marksman Bem Foster netted four times in his sides' 5-3 Royal Oak Way success. Phil Murphy was also on the scoresheet for the Motormen with Dave Conway and two goal Kyle Pacey-Vigo replying for Town. |
| Title race down to three? |
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Easter Saturday's programme saw the championship race effectively reduced to three clubs. A late Elliott Sandy goal gave Cogenhoe a 1-1 draw at Harrowby who led at the break through Darren Glover, while nearest challengers Yaxley were 4-1 winners at St Neots. Dale Watkins, Simon Acton and two goal Mark Kingston gave the Cuckoos their win after they fell behind to an early Simon Claridge goal. Glen Crook was the Potton matchwinner as they beat hosts Holbeach 1-0 to all but end the Tigers' challenge. Ford Sports' run of wins was ended by Buckingham who ran out 2-0 Ford Meadow winners with Lee Orcheston and Reuben Max-Grant on target. A Dave Drinkwater brace and Justin McKenzie effort gave Long Buckby a 3-0 home win over Desborough while Stotfold edged out Boston Town 1-0 with a late Lee Allinson strike. Deeping beat Daventry 3-2 at Outgang Road with an Ashley Stevens double and Keith Gray strike, Kevin Eales (penalty) and Kyle Pacey-Vigo the visiting marksmen. Adam Hancock gave basement side Raunds the lead at home to Newport Pagnell but a Nick Ashby own goal and Marc Redsull effort gave the Swans a 2-1 win. Bourne and Woodford drew 2-2 in a match of four spot kicks. Neil Champlovier scored two for the Reds with Miles Mason netting a retaken effort for the Wakes, whose other scorer was Jim Foreman. |
| Saints close gap at top |
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St Ives moved to within four points of Division One leaders Sileby on Easter Saturday with a 2-0 success at Olney, Jon Lee and Chris Ewles on tsrget. Third placed Eye bounced back from the previous week's reverse at Bugbrooke with a 3-0 win at Corby Cottingham, Darren Bradley, Danny Bowyer and Adam Regan sharing the goals. Whitworths took their unbeaten run to ten games with a 1-0 home win over Irchester, James Daldy deciding the derby in the Flourmen's favour. Huntingdon and Blisworth drew 1-1 at Jubillee Park, Paul Bass the home marksman with Matt Collins the Railwaymen's marksman. Thrapston and Sleaford drew 1-1 at Chancery Lane, Tim Williams' first half goal for Town cancelled out in stoppage time by Paul Ward. After seven successive defeats Rothwell Corinthians beat Burton Park 5-0 with goals from Justin Betts, Dave Briffa (penalty), Dave Townsend, goalkeeper Ben Holdsworth and Tom Greasley. |
| Huntingdon announce managerial change |
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Long serving manager Andy Rossi is to vacate the Huntingdon hot seat at the end of the season, Rossi, who formerly managed the old Huntingdon United club and March, has been in charge of Town for seven years, leading them to two promotions and four cup successes.
Reserve managerial pair Paul Telling and Gary Ling have been promoted to first team duty. The pair have run the second string for two seasons. Telling was formerly manager of the more recent but now disbanded Huntingdon United club while Ling started out running the Town under 16s and also had a spell as assistant manager of the county under 18 side. |
| Saints draw with Kjelsas |
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Norwegian 2nd Division side Kjelsas rounded off their mini tour on 21st March with a 1-1 draw at St Neots. The Norwegians have been using Rowley Park as a training base as they prepare for the new season in their own country. A foul by Steve Corry enabled Thomas Meiner to fire Kjelsas in front from the penalty spot after 37 minutes, but a close range header from Tom Hobbs twenty minutes from time earned the Saints a well deserved draw. |
| Cooks win as rivals slip |
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Cogenhoe strengthened their position at the top of the Premier Division on 19 March as some of their rivals for honours falted. Ollie Wilkinson, Richard Bunting and Richard Turner shared the goals as the Cooks won 3-0 at Wootton. Nearest challengers Yaxley were held to a 1-1 home draw by Desborough, Ricky Hailstone's strike for the Cuckoos matched by a Tony Page reply. Holbeach lost 1-0 at Buckingham whose matchwinner was Ben Reid, but Potton are still in the hunt after thrashing Bourne 6-2. Brett Donnelly scored two with a goal apiece from Stuart Lochhead, Anthony Schurek, Steve Kuhne and Gary Watts, the Wakes replying through Chris Gray and Grant Neil. There was another poor result for Harrowby who lost 3-2 at St Neots where Barry Dellar scored a last minute Saints winner. Pete Saunders and Simon Claridge were the other home scorers with Jamie Clarke and a Garath Pritchard spot kick counting for the Arrows.
Ford Sports reeled off a fifth successive win, 3-0 at Blackstones with a Mark Drake brace and Matty Doyle own goal. A Danny Matson hat trick helped Boston to a first win in eight outings as they outgunned hosts Long Buckby 5-3. Paul Goodhand and Micky Nuttell also netted for the Poachers with Darren Harmon, Danny Finlay and Justin McKenzie the home marksmen. Woodford and Stotfold drew 4-4 at Byfield Road. Nicky Gordon, Tom Fountain and two goal Adam Knight scored for the Reds with Wes Byrne, Gary Walker with a double, and Adam Pitcairn in the last minute earning a point for the Eagles. Ross Nichols and Keith Gray saw Deeping to a 2-0 win at Newport Pagnell. The big match at the foot of the table saw Daventry win 2-0 at Stewarts & Lloyds with goals from Kevin Eales and James Harri. |
| Title race moves in Sileby's favour |
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The 19 March action in Division One saw Sileby take a grip on the title race with five matches reamaining. Rangers beat Thrapston 4-1 after trailing to a Sam Duxbury goal at the interval. Glen Turner, two goal Tyron Wilson and Adam Taylor won it for Sileby who now top the table by four points ahead of St Ives who suffered their second successive defeat, 2-0 at home to Whitworths. James Daldy scored either side of half time for the Flourmen and is now on 28 goals for the season. 3rd placed Eye saw their ten match winning streak halted at Bugbrooke who ran out 1-0 winners with Craig Minney the Badgers' matchwinner. Corby Cottingham had Bobby Drain and Lee Genner on target in a 2-1 success at Blisworth whose marksman was Matt Collins.
Second half goals from Gary Cotter and Luke Tyler gave Irchester a 2-0 win at Eynesbury while Higham pipped hosts Kempston 2-1, an Ian Grove own goal and James Westley effort counting for the Lankies with Matt Kent the home scorer. Peter Green gave ON Chenecks a 1-0 victory at Rothwell Corinthians while basement side Burton Park picked up only their third point of the season drawing 1-1 at Sleaford, Sean Robinson cancelling out Steve Rowland's effort for the home side. |
| Shopmates beaten by Norwegians |
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Raunds Town's international friendly with Norwegian 2nd Division side Kjelsas on 19 March saw the Shopmates beaten 1-0. Mahad Hussein's 76th minute goal gave the Norwegians victory. Kjelsas continue their preparations for next month's league kick off with a visit to St Neots on Monday 21st March. |
| Transfers to 19/3/2005 |
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193. Michael Coles - Rothwell Town to Desborough
194. Andy Williams - Bourne to Holbeach 195. Tom McGarrity - Ford Sports to Woodford 196. Phil Woolley - Raunds to Higham 197. Karl Shackleton - Daventry to Long Buckby 198. Scott Marshall - Desborough to Blackstones 199. Mark Lyte - Long Buckby to Daventry 200. Peter Callaghan - Desborough to Burton Park 201. Nathan Jones - Desborough to Rothwell Town |
| International win for Huntingdon |
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Huntingdon beat Swiss 4th Division leaders FC Basserdorf 3-2 under the Jubilee Park floodlights on 17 March. Paul Bass opened the scoring four minutes in only for Renato Campagnito to level after nine minutes. Two minutes later Paul Nevill put Town back in the lead, but Jimmy Zumberovic equalised for Bassersdorf after 37 minutes. Nevill's 54th minute second won it for Town. |
| Shopmates and Saints face Norwegians |
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Norwegian 2nd Division side Kjelsas will be taking on two of our Premier Division clubs as they prepare for the start of their league campaign next month. On Saturday 19th March they take on Raunds at Kiln Park and on Monday 21st they visit Rowley Park to play St Neots. |
| Sileby end Saints' unbeaten run |
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The leadership of Division One changed hands on 12 March as Sileby regained pole position with a 3-0 home win over morning leaders St Ives who suffered their first defeat in 17 matches, in the process losing top slot after twelve weeks at number one. Adam Taylor, Glen Turner and Graham Cottle gave Rangers the points. Third placed Eye made it ten successive wins with a 3-0 victory at Higham, Ian Fovargue and two goal Lee Tyler on target, but Whitworths were held 1-1 at Blisworth where Scott Coleman's early spot kick for the Railwaymen was quickly cancelled out by Matt Freeman.
Irchester defender Phil Lawrence scored in each half to give the Romans a 2-1 home win over Sleaford who had Carl Sedlan on the scoresheet. Thrapston notched up their first win in a dozen games, two Dave Harding goals and one from James Blake edging out Kempston 3-2 at Chancery Lane. Matt Kent and Mick Daniels replied for the Walnut Boys. Dave Fisk and Jamie Donald gave Eynesbury a 2-0 home win over Bugbrooke while Steve Foster and Paul Fisher secured only a fourth win of the season for Olney, 2-0 against out of sorts Rothwell Corinthians at East Street. Bottom club Burton Park ended their goal famine but still lost 6-2 at home to Huntingdon. Debutants Stefan Tinworth and Shaun Robinson netted for Burton but a Paul Bass brace and singles from Dan Meston, Paul Nevill, Ross Sommers and Carl Foreman gave Town an emphatic win. |
| Wins for top four - S&L off the bottom |
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The 12 March Premier action saw wins for the top four in the division. Leaders Cogenhoe avenged a recent defeat at Blackstones with a 4-0 success in the Compton Park return, Jamie Wright, Paul Wagstaff, Brian Page (penalty) and midweek recruit Simon Underwood sharing the goals. Mark Paul and Dale Watkins hit first half goals as Yaxley won 2-0 at Daventry while Glen Crook and Luke Donnelly saw Potton to a 2-1 victory at Woodford, Nicky Gordon the home marksman. Nick Keeble and Kevin Childs netted as Holbeach beat Raunds 2-1, a late Jed Ainge reply not enough to keep the Shopmates off the foot of the table.
Stewarts & Lloyds won 3-2 at Long Buckby to move off the bottom of the chart. Derek Simmons, Matty O'Neill and Michael Sneddon gave S&L the points, with Jon Crockett and Danny Finlay on target for the Bucks. The bottom three are ten points adrift after wins for Bourne and Buckingham. The Wakes overcame Desborough 2-1 with Miles Mason on target twice after a Tom Mills opener for Ar Tarn. The Robins were 3-2 winners at Boston, Craig Caldwell-Smith, a Nathan Collins own goal and Junior George securing three vital points. Ross Don-Duncan (penalty) and Danny Matson replied for the Poachers. Wootton and Newport Pagnell drew 1-1 at Weston Park, Scott McGregor's first half effort for Blue Cross matched by Ben Hill's reply. Ian Waldock was the Ford Sports matchwinner as they edged past hosts St Neots 1-0 while Garath Pritchard, Jamie Clarke and Martin Wormall shared the goals as Harrowby won 3-0 at home to Northampton Spencer. Ashley Stevens netted twice for Deeping at Stotfold but the home side ran out 3-2 winners with Dave Cook, Wes Byrne and Lee Allinson the Eagles' marksmen. |
| Whitworths reach county final |
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Whitworths Reserves reached the final of the Northants Lower Junior Cup on 12 March, beating Corby Hellenic 1-0 in their London Road semi-final. Manager Steve Medlin was the Flourmen's marksman with a last minute decider. |
| Transfers to 12/03/05 |
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186. Keith Coughlin - Potton to Stotfold
187. Simon Underwood - Buckingham to Cogenhoe 188. John Edwards - Harrowby to Bourne 189. Ashley Bradshaw - Long Buckby to Cogenhoe 190. Steve Thompson - Wootton to St Neots 191. John Bowden - Burton Park to Rothwell Corinthians 192. Jerry Moss - Northampton Spencer to Ford Sports |
| Lightening strikes twice as Potton lights fail |
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Back in October a floodlight failure at The Hollow denied Potton a win over Cogenhoe. On that occasion the Royals led 3-1 when the lights went out five minutes from time. The fixture was restaged on 8 March and once again the floodlights failed, this time at half time. Potton again had their noses in front with a Brett Donnelly goal in the dying seconds of the half! |
| Cooks go eight clear |
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Cogenhoe moved into an eight point lead at the top of the Premier Division with a 3-0 home win over Newport Pagnell on 5 March. A James Fletcher own goal and efforts from Dan Burke and Ollie Wilkinson gave the Cooks a comfortable win. Potton moved up to third with a second successive 6-1 win as Daventry's five match unbeaten run bit the dust at The Hollow. Darren Towers gave the relegation threaten visitors the lead but doubles from Brett Donnelly and Steve Kuhne and singles from Gary Jackson and Glen Crook gave the Royals an emphatic victory. Harrowby's faint title hopes were all but ended in a 3-2 home reverse against Wootton. A Darek Jozwiak double and Chris Johnson effort gave Blue Cross three vital points in their battle to beat the drop, Martin Wormall and Garath Pritchard the home scorers.
Neil Champlovier's lone strike gave Woodford a 1-0 win at Boston and an eight day double while Ashley Stevens, Ross Nichols and Gianni Santoro saw Deeping to a 3-2 victory at Buckingham who replied through Reuben Max-Grant and Simon Underwood. Northampton Spencer and Stotfold drew 2-2 at Kingsthorpe Mill, Darren Frost and Scott Coleman giving the home side a point after Paul Garrett's first half double for Stotfold. Two late strikes from Jamie Gilsenan gave Blackstones a 2-2 derby draw at Bourne who had Chris Gray and Jason Harrison on the scoresheet. |
| Wins for title chasing trio |
|
With leaders St Ives on cup duty, three of the other leading championship contenders took advantage to close the gap at the top of the table. Second placed Eye extended their winning run to nine with a 2-0 home defeat of Rothwell Corinthians, Darren Bradley and Ashley Favell on target. Sileby demolished Huntingdon 7-0 at Fernie Fields, Mike Battams and Adam Taylor netting two apiece with Paul Bennett, Lee Purser and Graham Cottle providing scoring support. Whitworths edged out Olney 1-0 at London Road, Sol Benjamin the marksman.
Blisworth climbed to fifth place with a 1-0 success at Eynesbury, Kevin Eyre on target, while Sleaford stormed to a 6-2 win at Higham. Jamie Shaw and Robin Holderness scored two apiece for the Lincolnshire side with Matt Lamming and Steve Rowland also appearing on the scoresheet and James Westley netting both Lankies replies. Corby Cottingham and ON Chenecks drew 1-1 at the Rockingham Triangle, Steve Brydon and Peter Green the respective marksmen. Dean Eason, Paul Sloley, Steve Aslett and Danny Mackintosh scored the goals as Bugbrooke won 4-1 at Kempston who replied through Chris Boniface while Irchester edged out Thrapston 3-2 at Alfred Street. Jason Vaughan, Damian Grant and Karl Guy were the Romans' scorers, Scott Atkinson and James Blake replying for the visitors. |
| Holders through to final |
|
Huntingdonshire Senior Cup holders Yaxley booked a place in this season's final on 5 March with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Division One leaders St Ives. Peter Miller, Simon Acton, Mark Paul and Mark Kingston shared the Cuckoos goals. |
| Transfers to 5/3/05 |
|
176. Kevin Fox - Stewarts & Lloyds to Rothwell Town
177. Matthew Broomes - Raunds to ON Chenecks 178. Simon McCarthy - Cogenhoe to Raunds 179. Stefan Tinworth - Raunds to Burton PW 180. Mark Hackett - Desborough to Cogenhoe 181. Adam Taylor - Raunds to Higham 182. Matthew Taylor - Raunds to Higham 183. Tyrone Hicks - Raunds to Rothwell Town 184. Craig Archer - Woodford to Ford Sports 185. Ben Webster - Wootton to St Neots |
| Huntingdon to take on continental opposition |
|
Huntingdon Town will be playing Swiss 4th Division side FC Bassersdorf at Jubilee Park on Thursday 17th March with a 7.45 kick off.
Bassersdorf are currently top of the Swiss Division 4 and are on their winter break. They are coming to Jubilee Park for a four day training camp as part of their preparation to start their league programme again in April. Huntingdon Town are looking at this as a libk between the two clubs with Huntingdon offered the chance to go to Switzerland, possibly on a pre season tour. Town chairman Hans Reif has organised the trip as he has business contacts in Switzerland. |
| League General Secretary/Treasurer |
|
With immediate effect Roger Gamble has relinquished his position as League Secretary and Treasurer. The League is pleased to announce the nomination of Allan Crick, currently a member of the League Management Committee, as Secretary and Treasurer Designate. Following confirmation at the Annual General Meeting Allan will continue in this position.
The League wishes to record its thanks to Roger Gamble for his work over the last 17 years. |
| February awards |
|
The winners of the managerial awards for February are Shaun Keeble of Holbeach in the Premier Division and Warren Everdell of St Ives in Division One.
Keeble led the Tigers to five wins in six Premier matches during the month with title rivals Cogenhoe and Potton among their victims. In Division One St Ives collected maximum points from three league games and booked a place in the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup semi-finals to earn Everdell his second award in three months. There are joint winners of the Goalscorer of the Month award with Division One marksmen James Daldy of Whitworths and James Westley of Higham both scoring seven times in four February matches. Lee Brydon of Corby Cottingham becomes the second recipient of the new Hereward Sports Goalkeeper of the Month award. He kept clean sheets in all three of his club's February games. |
| Galbraith to step down at Eynesbury |
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Eynesbury manager Steve Galbraith has announced his decision to step down as Rovers boss, either at the end of the season or before if the club are able to find a suitable candaidate. Galbraith is one of Division One's longest serving managers having taken the Hall Road reins in December 2000 after a spell as reserve boss at neighbours St Neots. |
| Vital wins for Cogenhoe and Raunds |
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The 26 February action saw some key matches at both ends of the Premier table. At the top Cogenhoe beat title rivals Potton 1-0 at Compton Park thanks to a Carl Holmes debut goal. Yaxley stay second after a 4-2 home win over Newport Pagnell. Two Ricky Hailstone goals and singles from Simon Acton and Peter Miller gave the Cuckoos their win, Ben Hill and Marc Redsull replying for the Swans who had goalkeeper Andy Partlow red carded. Holbeach climbed to third in style beating Buckingham 4-0 at Carters Park. Tom Gosling scored twice for the Tigers with Nick Keeble and Darren Cundy also appearing on the scoresheet.
Harrowby's honours bid is fading after a 2-1 loss at Long Buckby. Mark Foster scored for the Arrows with Dave Drinkwater and Jon Crockett the Bucks marksmen as they avenged an eight goal drubbing in the Knockout Cup. Two Ben Foster goals and one from Tyrone Kent gave Ford Sports a 3-0 win at Stotfold while Ben Milner and Nicky Gordon saw Woodford beat Boston 2-0 at Byfield Road. A late Adam Hancock strike gave Raunds a 1-0 win at Stewarts & Lloyds in their bottom of the table contest, while Daventry's winning run was halted in a 1-1 home draw with Bourne, Dave Lancaster cancelling out a Jim Foreman opener for the Wakes. Wootton inched closer to safety in a 0-0 home draw with Blackstones. |
| Saints go seven clear as Sileby slip |
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St Ives remain on course for the Division One title after a 3-1 win over Rothwell Corinthians at Westwood Road on 26 February. Graeme Thackray, Chris Ewles and Liam Kennett shared the Saints goals after Ian Symington's early opener for Corinths. Sileby's promotion suffered a setback as they went down 3-1 at home to Eynesbury in the upset of the day. Mike Battams' opener for Rangers was quickly cancelled out by a Paul Carey spot kick and Jamie Donald's second half double gave Eynesbury victory. A James Daldy double saw Whitworths to a 2-1 success at Thrapston who had Keith Morson on the scoresheet. First half goals from Peter Green and Jamie Nuttall gave ON Chenecks a 2-1 home win over Kempston who replied through Mark Pledger, while Olney tasted victory for only the third time this season, 3-0 at home to Huntingdon. Sam Callear, Jamie Rutherford and Paul Munday shared the Nurserymen's goals. |
| Transfers to 26/2/05 |
|
167. Fazel Koriya - Cogenhoe to Long Buckby
. 168. Adam Smith - Wootton to St Neots 169. Darryl Chappell - Bourne to Burton Park 170. Mark Wilson - Bourne to Burton Park 171. Glen Thompson - Daventry to Raunds 172. Adam Hancock - Cogenhoe to Raunds 173. Kyle Pacey-Vigo - Northampton Spencer to Daventry 174. Luke Weston - Raunds to Yaxley 175. Lloyd Buchan - Spalding to Yaxley |
| Leading goalscorers at 23/2/05 |
|
Premier Division
Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 26; Brett Donnelly (Potton) 22; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer), Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 20; Steve Kuhne (Potton) 18; Danny Matson (Boston Town) 15; Jamie Gilsenan (Blackstones), Darek Jozwiak (Wootton), Reuben Max-Grant (Buckingham) 13; Darren Collins (Cogenhoe), George Donnelly (Desborough), Ricky Hailstone (Yaxley) 12. Division One James Daldy (Whitworths) 24; Paul Carey (Eynesbury), Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 23; Chris Ewles (St Ives), Glen Turner (Sileby) 18; James Westley (Higham) 16; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 14; Tony Ielapi (Rothwell Corinthians), Adam Taylor (Sileby) 13; Matt Kent (Kempston) 12. Reserve Division One Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 18; Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 14; Matt Goodwin (Sileby), Craig Sampson (Northampton Spencer) 13; Adam Hancock (Raunds), Paul Pickering (Northampton Spencer) 12. Reserve Division Two Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 23; Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 16; Dale Barham (Spalding) 13; Darren Edey (Spalding), Dean King (Irchester) 12. |
| Ex-Buckby duo join Burton Park |
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Former Long Buckby managerial duo Geoff Green and Kevin Townsend have linked up with Division One basement boys Burton Park Wanderers, joining Roger Patrick in the Latimer Park management team. Green, who has had spells with Loughborough and Lutterworth since leaving Station Road midway through last season, spent a year at Buckby helping preserve their top flight status in the 2002-03 season. His former assistant with the Bucks Townsend had a brief spell at the Station Road helm himself and the pair have now teamed up again with Burton. |
| Doughboys comeback given the nod |
|
The Football Association have given the revived Wellingborough Town 2004 club approval to enter Division One of the Eagle Bitter UCL for the 2005-06 season. The revived club fill the gap left by the demise of Northamptonshire's oldest club three years ago. They will again play at the Dog & Duck ground. Wellingborough Town 2004 are currently fielding a side in the Northants Senior Youth League. |
| Yaxley the only top four winners |
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The 19 February Premier programme saw Yaxley the sole winners in the morning top four. John Patten, Lee Blewett and a Phil Reynolds own goal gave the Cuckoos a 3-1 win at Northampton Spencer with Yaxley defender Michael Goode also scoring at the wrong end. The Cuckoos trail Cogenhoe by five points after Adam Sandy's side lost 1-0 at Blackstones, only their fourth reverse of the season. Matt Doyle's goal gave Stones their first win in six outings. Harrowby couldn't take advantage of the leaders' slip, losing 3-2 at home to Stotfold who had Gary Walker, Ian Morrison and Luke Gregson on target. Darren Glover and Pete Sutton were the Arrows' marksmen. Potton also lost at home, Nick Keeble's late goal giving Holbeach a 1-0 success at The Hollow.
At the wrong end of the table Daventry's fourth successive win moved them out of the relegation zone, and what a win it was, 5-0 at Desborough. Dave Stone scored four with new man Kyle Pacey-Vigo also on target. Stewarts & Lloyds crashed 4-1 to Deeping at Occupation Road. Ashley Stevens hit a hat trick as Rangers collected their first win in ten games, Ross Nichols also on target after a Mark Forbes opener for S&L. Raunds drew 2-2 at home to Wootton, new signings Adam Hancock and Richard Bailey scoring for the Shopmates and Darek Jozwiak and Leon Cashman the Blue Cross marksmen. Two Tyrone Kent goals and one from Dave Bond gave Ford Sports a 3-0 win over visitors Boston, while St Neots and Long Buckby drew 0-0 at Rowley Park. Terry Fitton and Nicky Gordon netted as Woodford notched up a 2-1 home win over Buckingham, Carl Standen's own goal counting for the Robins. At the Abbey Lawn Bourne and stalemate specialists Newport Pagnell drew 1-1, Miles Mason and Tom Hill the respective scorers. |
| Saints go four clear |
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St Ives opened up a four point lead at the top of Division One on 19 February with a 2-1 success at Higham. Danny Bird gave the Lankies a first half lead but their six match winning streak was halted by second half goals from Will Fordham and Roger Jenner. Eye moved up to second after Dino Salerno and Shaun Skerritt saw them to their eighth successive victory, 2-0 at Irchester. Sileby drop to third after manager Gary Petts' return to his old club Thrapston ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Thrapston's Mark Johnson salvaged a point after Adam Taylor's first half opener for Rangers.
Whitworths lost ground in a 2-2 home draw with Bugbrooke. James Daldy scored twice for the Flourmen to move to the top of the division's scorecharts with 24 goals, Mike Salisbury and Paul Sloley replying for the Badgers. Rothwell Corinthians' poor run continued with a 2-1 reverse at Blisworth who took the points with goals from Kevin Eyre and Neil Lovell, Dave Townsend replying. Corby Cottingham saw off Eynesbury 3-0 at the Rockingham Triangle with Dave Trimble and two goal Bobby Drain sharing the goals. Jamie Shaw's 23rd goal of the season gave Sleaford a 1-0 success at Olney while first half goals from Gary Marheineke and Ross Sommers saw Huntingdon to a 2-0 home win over ON Chenecks. A Sanjeev Kalyan penalty and Chris Boniface effort gave Kempston a 2-0 Hillgrounds win over bottom markers Burton Park. |
| Floodlight boost for Irchester |
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The Football Stadia Improvement Fund, supporters of the Football Foundation, announced a grant of £50,000 to Irchester United FC on 16 February.
The award will enable the Romans to install floodlights at their Alfred Street ground allowing continued participation in the league when new ground standard requirements come into force. These facilities will also benefit the Romans' youth players as participation in midweek under 18 floodlit league football will now be possible. It is planned that the Alfred Street floodlights will be installed for the start of the 2005-06 season, with work commencing towards the end of the current campaign. |
| Ashby takes the Raunds reins |
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Raunds Town have parted company with manager Kelly Meagan who only took over at Kiln Park from Mark Walters in September. Taking charge is Nick Ashby who has spent three years as assistant manager of Southern League Stamford. Ashby is a former England semi-professional international defender who played five times for his country between 1994 and 1996. He played for Raunds in their Southern League days and also played for Nottingham Forest, Rushden & Diamonds, Kettering, Enfield and Burton. |
| Cooks go five points clear |
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Cogenhoe opened up a five point lead at the top of the Premier Division on 12 February, avenging one of their three defeats with a 5-0 thrashing of St Neots. Roy Anderson scored two with singles from Dan Burke, Richard Turner and Brian Page. Potton kept up their challenge by beating Woodford 4-1 at The Hollow. Steve Kuhne scored two with Luke Donnelly and Gary Jackson also on the scoresheet, Tom Fountain replying for the Reds. Holbeach crashed 4-2 to Wootton in the upset of the day. A Darek Jozwiak brace and strikes from Leon Cashman and Chris Johnson won it for Wootton, Paul Langford and David Cobb replying for the Tigers. Long Buckby ended Bourne's winning run with a 4-2 Station Road success. Dave Drinkwater's double allied to goals from Darren Harmon and Danny Finlay gave Buckby the points, Tommy Horwood and Jim Foreman the Wakes scorers.
Newport Pagnell are unbeaten in six after goals from Gary Flinn and Tom Hill gave them a 2-2 draw at Boston who had Matt Price and Dave Scotney on target. Deeping and Northampton Spencer drew 1-1 at Outgang Road, Ashley Stevens and Paul Pickering the respective marksmen. A lone Eddie Mills goal gave Desborough a 1-0 success at Stotfold while Raunds won for the first time in 16 outings to climb off the foot of the table. A Mike McKenzie brace gave the Shopmates a 2-1 home win over Blackstones who had Richard Nelson on the scoresheet. |
| Saints back on top |
|
St Ives regained pole position in Division One on 12 February after a last minute Liam Kennett spot kick gave them a 1-0 home win over Thrapston. Eye beat Olney 6-3 at Chestnut Avenue with Danny Bowyer and Steve Phillips scoring two apiece for United who also had Dino Salerno and Shaun Skerritt on target. Two goal Steve Foster and Paul Munday replied for Olney. James Daldy hit a hat trick as Whitworths beat Kempston 5-1. Jason Crawley and Sean Lonergan provided scoring support, Matt Kent on the mark for the Walnut Boys. Rothwell Corinthians' promotion hopes suffered a setback in a 2-0 loss at Higham, James Westley and Phil Nichols giving the Lankies a sixth win in a row.
Corby Cottingham drew 0-0 at ON Chenecks while Pete Gregory and Ian Wake saw Blisworth to a 2-1 home win over Eynesbury who replied through Jamie Donald. Steve Aslett was the Bugbrooke matchwinner as they pipped Huntingdon 1-0 while basement side Burton Park crashed 4-0 at Irchester, own goals from Ricky Stimson and James Dowling putting the Romans in charge before Jason Vaughan and Karl Guy added further goals. |
| Transfers to 12/2/05 |
|
155. Tom Smith - Blackstones to Rothwell Town
156. Pete Saunders - Potton to St Neots 157. Ben Hyams - Ford Sports to Daventry 158. Ross Howes - Whitworths to Raunds 159. Michael Bass - Rothwell Town to Desborough 160. Jamie Gilsenan - Desborough to blackstones 161. David Hargreaves - Stotfold to Kempston 162. Andy Duddy - Burton PW to Rothwell Corinthians 163. Neil Addy - Burton PW to Rothwell Corinthians 164. Richard Stainsby - Bourne to Blackstones 165. Richard Jones - Bourne to Blackstones 166. Ben Foster - Cogenhoe to Ford Sports |
| Leading goalscorers at 9 February |
|
Premier Division
Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 25; Brett Donnelly (Potton) 21; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer) 20; Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 19; Danny Matson (Boston) 15; Steve Kuhne (Potton) 14. Division One Paul Carey (Eynesbury) 23; Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 22; James Daldy (Whitworths) 19; Chris Ewles (St Ives), Glen Turner (Sileby) 18; James Westley (Higham) 15; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 14. Reserve Division One Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 16; Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 14; Adam Hancock (Cogenhoe), Paul Pickering (Northampton Spencer) 12; Matt Goodwin (Sileby), Craig Sampson (Northampton Spencer) 11. Reserve Division Two Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 16; Darren Edey (Spalding), Dean King (Irchester) 12; Dale Barham (Spalding), Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 11. |
| Tigers win opens up title race |
|
Holbeach's 2-1 home win over leaders Cogenhoe on 5 February opened up the Premier Division title race. Tom Gosling and Omar Joof gave the Tigers a vital victory after Roy Anderson gave the Cooks the lead. Harrowby were unable to capitalise, going down 2-0 at Woodford to a Ben Milner brace, but Potton kept up their challenge with a 2-0 success at Ford Sports, Steve Kuhne and Gary Jackson the Royals' marksmen.
At the bottom Daventry moved off the foot with a 2-0 success at Raunds who replace them in last place. Simon Skipworth and Dave Stone giving Daventry a second successive win. Fellow strugglers Stewarts & Lloyds picked up three vital points winning 2-0 at Stotfold with a Derek Simmons double. Wootton's improved run of results was halted by Northampton Spencer's 2-1 success at Weston Park, Darren Frost and Adam Wigley the Millers' marksmen and Darek Jozwiak the Blue Cross scorer. Bourne are all but safe after a 3-0 home win over Boston, Jim Foreman and two goal Miles Mason on target for the Wakes. Mark Redsull gave Newport Pagnell a 1-0 home win over Blackstones while Reuben Max-Grant and Craig Caldwell-Smith saw Buckingham to a 2-0 win at St Neots. Desborough halted their losing run by drawing 4-4 at home to Deeping. Bryan Jeffery gave Ar Tarn an early lead but two Bobby Lewsam strikes and singles from Ashley Stevens and Guy Last put Deeping in charge. Desborough fought back to earn a point with goals from Andy Greensmith, Mike McConnell and Jamie Gilsenan. |
| Sileby back on top |
|
Sileby produced an excellent comeback to return to the head of Division One on 5 February. Trailing to goals from Gareth Errington and Steve Aslett at Bugbrooke, Rangers fought back to snatch a 3-2 victory with Marshall Dodd, Glen Turner and Lee Purser on target. Whitworths were held 0-0 by visiting Sleaford while Thrapston and ON Chenecks drew 1-1 at Chancery Lane, a late Jim Wilson effort earning the home side a point after Michael Strong gave Chenecks the lead. Carl Foreman and Gary Marheineke were the Huntingdon scorers in a 2-0 success at Kempston while Higham notched up a fifth successive win, 6-0 at bottom markers Burton Park. James Westley hit a hat trick with a goal apiece from Steve Ainge, Dave Kew and Chris Martin. |
| Goal spree for Saints |
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Yaxley will entertain St Ives in the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup semi-finals after the pair notched up quarter final victories on 5 February. Yaxley made heavy weather of it against Godmanchester but progressed 1-0 with a late Dale Watkins goal. St Ives were more impressive demolishing Eynesbury 5-1 at Westwood Road. Chris Ewles scored three and Liam Kennett two for the Saints, Dave Fisk briefly hauling Rovers on terms.
Blisworth and Eye will contest the Northants Junior Cup final. Neil Lovell and Kevin Eyre gave the Railwaymen a 2-1 home win over S&L Reserves who replied with a Tim Buxton own goal. Eye were 3-1 winners at Cottingham on penalties after the sides had played out a 1-1 extra time draw. Bobby Drain gave the home side the lead with Darren Bradley replying for United. |
| Stotfold sign Northern Ireland international |
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Stotfold included Northern Ireland international Phil Gray in their squad at Buckingham on Wednesday 2 February. The 36 year old scored 6 goals in 26 appearances for his country in a career which saw him play over 300 league games with Tottenham, Luton, Sunderland, Burnley and Oxford. Gray also played in France for Nancy and his career transfer fees totalled almost £1.5 million. |
| January award winners |
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With the introduction of the Hereward Sports sponsored Goalkeeper of the Month prize there were four items of silverware on offer at the end of January, but only two clubs were the recipients. In the Premier Division Harrowby's Graham Drury was named Manager of the Month after his side won five of their six matches, with the 11 goal contribution of the January Goalscorer of the Month Martin Wormall playing a big part.
Winning his first Manager of the Month award in Division One was Alex Brown of Eye whose side won all four January matches. His team's strength was at the other end of the park, with just one goal conceded, enabling United custodian Aaron Bannie to become the first winner of the Goalscorer of the Month accolade. |
| Robins into last four |
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Buckingham booked a home Knockout Cup semi-final with Woodford by beating Stotfold 2-1 on 2 February. Abdul Abdi and Moses Olaleye scored for the Robins after Wes Byrne had put Stotfold in front. In the Premier Division Holbeach won 3-0 at Blackstones with a Rob Speechley brace and Tom Gosling effort, while Potton won 2-1 at Wootton in a Hinchingbrooke Cup 1st Round tie. Steve Kuhne and Glen Crook netted for the Royals, Steve Gentle the home scorer. |
| Boston slip - Higham win again |
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The 1 February action saw Boston drop two surprise points in a 1-1 Premier draw at home to Deeping. Danny Matson's 15th goal of the season for the Poachers was cancelled out by a last minute Rangers reply from Matt Porter. In Division One Higham continued their winning start to 2005 with a 4-1 success at Eynesbury. James Westley scored three and Andy Munday one for the Lankies, Stuart Harper replying for Rovers. St Neots reached the semi-finals of the Hinchingbrooke Cup with a 3-2 home win over Biggleswade Town, Pete Saunders, Russell Lawes and Joe Jordan on the scoresheet. |
| Benefit raises £3000 |
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The Chris Curtis benefit match between Harrowby and neighbours Grantham on 31 January raised £3,000 for the former Arrows and Gingerbreads player who is suffering from cancer. The ambitious Arrows showed their higher grade potential by opening up a three goal lead through two goal Martin Wormall and Ian Dunn, only for Grantham to reply with a Jim Neil brace and James Rowe effort in front of a crowd of 490. |
| Cooks go three points clear |
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Cogenhoe opened up a three point gap at the top of the Premier Division on 29 January. Adam Sandy's side beat Woodford 2-1 after trailing to Tom Fountain's opener. Richard Turner and Roy Anderson turned the tables in the second half. Harrowby's strike pair were in fine form as struggling Raunds were beaten 5-1 at Harrowby Fields. Scott Taylor scored three and Martin Wormall two with Mike McKenzie replying for the Shopmates. Potton won 4-0 at Deeping, Brett Donnelly's hat trick including two penalties. Steve Kuhne was the other Royals scorer. Desborough's title bid was all but ended by a 2-0 home loss to Bourne who took the points with goals from Miles Mason and Jim Foreman.
Dave Drinkwater and Jon Crockett were on target as Long Buckby won 2-1 at home to Stotfold whose marksman was manager Steve Cook while Boston Town were 4-2 home winners over Northampton Spencer. Danny Matson scored two for the Poachers who also had Ben Harris and Paul Goodhand on target. Darren Frost and Chris Davies were on the mark for the Millers. St Neots produced the comeback of the day to win 3-2 at home to Blackstones. Kevin Ainslie and Gareth Williams opened up a two goal lead for the visitors before Barry Dellar cut the deficit and Simon Claridge scored two more for St Neots. Daventry celebrated only their third win of the campaign, Dave Stone their matchwinner with both goals in a 2-0 win over Stewarts & Lloyds at Elderstubbs. |
| Pack close in on Saints |
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With leaders St Ives' derby against Eynesbury postponed on 29 January the chasing pack took advantage to close the gap at the top. Two Adam Taylor goals in the first twenty minutes gave Sileby a 2-0 success at Kempston while a lone Ian Fovargue strike saw Eye to their sixth successive win, 1-0 at home to Huntingdon. Rothwell Corinthians kept up their challenge with a 3-0 victory at fading Thrapston, Tony Ielapi scoring twice and Dave Briffa once while Whitworths trounced Burton Park 6-0 at London Road. Sol Benjamin and James Daldy netted two apiece with singles from Sean Lonergan and Matt Freeman.
Sleaford and Corby Cottingham drew 0-0 at Cranwell, while Karl Guy's last minute goal gave Irchester a 2-1 win over visiting Bugbrooke, Damian Grant's penalty for the Romans matched by a Steve Aslett reply. Andy Munday, James Westley and Steve Ainge shared the goals as Higham surprised hosts Blisworth 3-0, while a Scott Barczewski brace saw ON Chenecks to their first away success of the season, 2-0 at Olney. |
| Transfers to 29/1/05 |
|
151. Andy Partlow - Wootton to Newport Pagnell
152. Stuart Ashfield - Woodford to Daventry 153. Danny Bowyer - Yaxley to Eye 154. Ian Mills - Ford Sports to Bugbrooke |
| Leading scorers at 26/1/05 |
|
Premier Division
Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 23; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer), Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 18; Brett Donnelly (Potton) 17; Darren Collins (Cogenhoe), George Donnelly, Jamie Gilsenan (Desborough), Ricky Hailstone (Yaxley), Steve Kuhne (Potton), Danny Matson (Boston), Reuben Max-Grant (Buckingham) 12; Kevin Childs (Holbeach), Liam Harrold (St Neots), Ian Pearce (Ford Sports) 11. Division One Paul Carey (Eynesbury) 23; Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 22; Chris Ewles (St Ives) 18; James Daldy (Whitworths), Glen Turner (Sileby) 17; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 13; Barry Albone (Eynesbury), James Blake (Thrapston), Robin Holderness (Sleaford), Tony Ielapi (Rothwell Corinthians), Matt Kent (Kempston), Graeme Thackray (St Ives) 11. Reserve Division One Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 15; Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 14; Adam Hancock (Cogenhoe), Paul Pickering (Northampton Spencer) 12; Craig Sampson (Northampton Spencer) 11. Reserve Division Two Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 15; Darren Edey (Spalding), Dean King (Irchester) 12; Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 11. |
| Arrows to meet neighbours in benefit |
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Harrowby are to meet Southern League neighbours Grantham Town on Monday 31 January in a benefit match for former player Chris Curtis. The purpose is to raise funds for medical treatment for Curtis who is suffering from cancer. He played for the Arrows in the 80s and 90s and also spent two years with the Gingerbreads under Martin O'Neill's management. Kick off is 7.45. |
| Stoyles axed at Newport |
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Newport parted company with manager Jimmy Stoyles on 25 January due to poor results. Stoyles was named co-manager with Wayne Spencer and continued on his own after Spencer's November resignation. He will remain with the club as a coach. Taking over is long serving former boss Danni Janes who takes the reins for a third time. He started the Willen Road hot seat merry go round by stepping down in April. |
| Robins reach semi-final |
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The 25 January cup action saw Buckingham reach the last four of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy with a 2-1 extra time success at Reading Town. Craig Caldwell-Smith was the Robins hero with both goals in a match which finished at 11.10 p.m! The Huntingdonshire Premier Cup swung into action the same night with an upset as last season's runners up Eynesbury crashed 4-1 at Needingworth, an own goal Rovers' only reward. Huntingdon fared better 24 hours later beating neighbours Godmanchester 2-0 at Jubilee Park with Paul Nevill and Paul Bass on the scoresheet.
|
| Cooks maintain lead |
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Cogenhoe's 1-1 draw at Yaxley on 25 January maintained their grip on the Premier Division title race. Roy Anderson's 70th minute strike for the Cooks was matched by a Ricky Hailstone spot kick six minutes later. A bonus for the leaders was Potton's 2-1 reverse at Stotfold, where a first half Wes Byrne strike and Paul Garrett spot kick gave the Eagles the derby honours, Brett Donnelly replying in the second period. A late Rick Kimbell goal gave Woodford a 1-1 home draw with Newport Pagnell who had Mark Redsull on the scoresheet. Wootton eased relegation fears with a 4-1 success at Wootton. Chris Johnson, Ben Chambers, Darek Jozwiak and Leon Cashman shared the Blue Cross goals with Simon Claridge the home marksman. |
| Harrowby to stage tsunami fund raiser |
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Harrowby United are playing Lincoln City on Monday 24 January in a match to raise funds for the tsunami victims in the far east. The match at Harrowby Fields will kick off at 7 p.m. |
| Cooks held by Tigers |
|
Premier leaders Cogenhoe were held 1-1 by in form Holbeach at Compton Park on 22 January, Jamie Wright's early strike for the tabletoppers matched by a David Cobb reply. Yaxley joined the Cooks on 55 points with an impressive 4-1 home win over Deeping. A Lee Blewett double and goals from Mark Paul and Ricky Hailstone gave Yaxley the points with Ashley Stevens scoring for Rangers against the club he left in the week. Third placed Harrowby lost 2-0 at Ford Sports to goals from Mark Drake and Ian Pearce.
Daventry crashed 5-2 at Newport Pagnell who won for the first time in 15 outings. Gary Flinn, two goal Mark Redsull, Lee Tinsley and Ben Hill shared the Swans goals with Nathan Crowder and Dave Lancaster replying for Town. Raunds are also in trouble after a 3-0 reverse at Woodford who had Ian King, Adam Knight and Carl Standen on the scoresheet. Wootton won 2-1 at Stewarts & Lloyds with Adam Smith and Darek Jozwiak giving Blue Cross their first league win under Phil Silvestri's management. Greig McIlwain was the home marksmen. Bourne's new look side picked up three valuable points beating Buckingham 3-1 at the Abbey Lawn. Gary Buckthorpe, Miles Mason and Jim Foreman shared the Wakes goals with Ben Reid the Robins' scorers. A Chris Davies brace gave Northampton Spencer a 2-1 success at Stotfold who replied through Wes Byrne. Boston Town and St Neots drew 2-2 at Tattershall Road, Ben Harris and Danny Matson the Poachers scorers with Russell Lawes (penalty) and Frank Atkins on target for the Saints. Blackstones and Long Buckby drew 1-1 at Lincoln Road, Gareth Williams the home scorer with Dave Drinkwater's spot kick giving Buckby their point. |
| Wins for top three |
|
The 22 January Division One action saw victories for the top three. Liam Kennett was the first half matchwinner as pacesetters St Ives beat hosts Corby Cottingham 1-0. Sileby stay second after a 4-1 home win over Olney. Glen Turner netted twice for Rangers who also had Graham Cottle and Adam Taylor on the mark. Sam Callear replied for the Nurserymen. Eye enjoyed a 6-1 romp against Burton Park who at least scored their first goal in 13 hours through Jake Bailey. Steve Phillips scored four for Eye who also had Dino Salerno and Ian Fovargue on the scoresheet. Whitworths lost ground in a 1-1 draw at ON Chenecks, Steve Allen's opener for Chenecks cancelled out by James Daldy. Paul Sloley's brace gave Bugbrooke a 2-1 success at Thrapston who replied through Sam Duxbury, while Matt Collins and Pete Gregory gave Blisworth a 2-1 home win over Irchester whose scorer was Gary Evans. Eynesbury goal ace Paul Carey moved to the top of the divisional scorecharts with a hat trick, including two penalties but his side still lost 5-4 at home to Kempston who took the points with a Jason Allison double and singles from Sanjeev Kalyan, Matt Kent and James Cooper. Jamie Donald was the other Eynesbury marksman. |
| Vase adventure over for duo |
|
Both our FA Vase survivors made 4th Round exits in closely contested ties on 22 January. Desborough exited 1-0 at Stourbridge to a goal scored midway through the second half, while a deflected shot off Steve Kuhne seven minutes from time saw Potton slip out 2-1 at Bury Town. Matt Enderby scored for the Royals after 64 minutes, cancelling out the home opener ten minutes earlier. |
| Surprise end to Sleaford reign |
|
Sleaford's three year reign as Lincolnshire Senior Cup 'B' kings is over after they suffered a shock semi-final defeat against Ruston Sports on 22 January. A lone strike three minutes from the end of extra time put Sleaford out. |
| Transfers to 22/1/05 |
|
138. Michael Boyle-Chong - Raunds to Rothwell Town
139. Stefan Tinworth - Rothwell Town to Raunds 140. Glen Gibb _ Long Buckby to Ford Sports 141. Mike McConnell - Stewarts & Lloyds to Desborough 142. Dan Chilton - Cogenhoe to Northampton Spencer 143. Gareth Symonds - Harrowby to Bourne 144. Gary Buckthorpe - Harrowby to Bourne 145. John Kyte - Rothwell Corinthians to Blackstones 146. Frank Atkins - Wootton to St Neots 147. Ashley Stevens - Yaxley to Deeping 148. Tyrone Kent - Sileby to Ford Sports 149. Matty Cox - Woodford to Ford Sports 150. Craig Cassidy - Long Buckby to Rothwell Corinthians |
| Leading goalscorers at 19/01/05 |
|
Premier Division
Martin Wormall (Harrowby) 23; Darren Frost (Northampton Spencer), Richard Turner (Cogenhoe) 18; Brett Donnelly (Potton) 16; Darren Collins (Cogenhoe), George Donnelly (Desborough), Jamie Gilsenan (Desborough), Steve Kuhne (Potton), Reuben Max-Grant (Buckingham) 12; Kevin Childs (Holbeach), Liam Harrold (St Neots), Danny Matson (Boston) 11; Ricky Hailstone (Yaxley), Ian Pearce (Ford Sports 10). Division One Jamie Shaw (Sleaford) 22, Paul Carey (Eynesbury) 20; Chris Ewles (St Ives) 18; James Daldy (Whitworths) 16; Glen Turner (Sileby) 15; Dave Briffa (Rothwell Corinthians) 13; Barry Albone (Eynesbury), James Blake (Thrapston), Robin Holderness (Sleaford), Tony Ielapi (Rothwell Corinthians), Graeme Thackray (St Ives) 11; Mike Battams (Sileby), Matt Kent (Kempston) 10. Reserve Division One: Karl Bates (Northampton Spencer) 14; Cornell Haughton (Rothwell) 12; Paul Pickering (Northampton Spencer) 11; Paul Simpson (Stewarts & Lloyds) 10. Reserve Division Two: Chris Trill (Ford Sports) 13; Darren Edey (Spalding), Dean King (Irchester) 12; Dale Barham (Spalding), Tommy Waldock (Ford Sports) 10. |
| Arrows close in on leaders - more woe for Daventry |
|
The 18 January Premier Division action saw more woe for bottom markers Daventry as they lost 3-0 to neighbours Ford Sports at Elderstubbs. Ross Harris, Mark Drake and Colin Cooper shared the Motormen goals. Long Buckby won 3-1 at Woodford with Danny Finlay, Jon Crockett and Lee McBain netting for Buckby after Lewis Travers gave Woodford the lead.
In Division One Sileby moved up to seconf slot by beating ON Chenecks 3-1 in the first league match under the new Fernie Fields lights. Paul Byers, Paul Bennett and Tyron Wilson netted for Rangers, Jamie Nuttall replying. Bugbrooke surprised Blisworth 2-1 at Courteenhall Road, Dean Eason and Paul Sloley the Badgers scorers, Nick Woodroffe on the scoresheet for the Railwaymen. Wootton and Stotfold made quarter final exits from the Bedfordshire Senior Cup. Blue Cross bowed out 1-0 at Dunstable to a late penalty while the Eagles lost 3-2 at Leighton, Luke Gregson and Adam Pitcairn the Stotfold marksmen. On 19 December Harrowby moved closer to the Premier leaders by winning 3-1 at Bourne. A first half Martin Wormall brace and Jason Gough own goal gave the Arrows another win, Jim Foreman replying for the Wakes. Buckingham and Newport Pagnell drew 2-2 at Ford Meadow. Abdul Abdi and Simon Underwood were on target for the Robins with late Swans replies from Gary Flinn and Tom Hill earning the visitors their point. |
| Cogenhoe keep on winning |
|
Cogenhoe extended their unbeaten run to 14 games on 15 January with a 3-0 win at Raunds. Darren Collins, Roy Anderson and Jamie Wright shared the goals. Yaxley lost ground in a 0-0 draw at Wootton while Desborough fared worse still, losing 1-0 at home to Blackstones whose matchwinner was Matty Doyle. Potton hit top form with a 6-0 success at Northampton Spencer, James Hatch scoring a first half hat trick with Brett Donnelly, Steve Kuhne (penalty) and Gary Jackson all appearing on the scoresheet. Holbeach trailed to a Dave Lancaster goal at half time against Daventry but found another gear after the interval to run out 6-1 winners. Manager Shaun Keeble netted twice with Danny Hussey, David Cobb, Tom Gosling and Steve Barnes all adding to the visitors' woes.
Gary Walker's second half double gave Stotfold a 2-1 success at Ford Sports who led at the break through Ian Pearce, while St Neots beat Bourne 3-0 with Ronnie Fortune, Simon Claridge and Danny Griggs sharing the goals. Newport Pagnell and Long Buckby drew 0-0 at Willen Road, while Keith Gray's debut goal gave Deeping a 1-1 home draw with Woodford whose scorer was Nicky Gordon. Stewarts & Lloyds drew 2-2 at Occupation Road, Dominic Johnson and Derek Simmons the home scorers, Micky Nuttell and Ben Harris on the mark for the Poachers. |
| Saints edge further clear |
|
St Ives moved seven points clear at the top of Division One on 15 January with a 5-0 win over visiting Kempston. Liam Kennett scored twice with further goals from Chris Ewles, scoring in the ninth successive match, Graeme Thackray and Glyn Cooke. Eye moved up to second with a 2-0 win at ON Chenecks with goals from Trevor Smith and Shaun Skerritt. Rothwell Corinthians moved up to third with a 2-1 home win over Irchester, Dan Morris netting a late winner after Ben Guy's opener was matched by a Dave Hiscock reply for the Romans. Sileby slipped to fourth after losing 3-1 at Sleaford who had Jamie Shaw (penalty), Paul Ward and Steve Rowland on target with Andy Scott's own goal counting for Rangers. Whitworths also lost ground in the title race losing 5-3 to visting Eynesbury. Paul Carey hit a hat trick for Rovers who also had Jamie Donald and Ross West on the scoresheet, the Flourmen replying through two goal James Daldy and Kris Line with a spot kick. Huntingdon were 5-0 home winners over Burton Park with a Gavin Marsh double and one apiece from Darren Ray, Paul Bass and Gary Marheineke. Olney had a day to remember beating Thrapston 4-2 at East Street to claim their second win of the campaign. Paul Munday scored twice for the Nurserymen with James Gear and Paul Pratt also on target. James Blake and Scott Atkinson replied for the visitors. |
| Arrows through to Knockout Cup quarters |
|
Harrowby booked a quarter final place in the Knockout Cup with a 6-0 demolition of Blisworth at Harrowby Fields. Martin Wormall took star billing with a five goal haul, Ian Williams completing the rout from the penalty spot. |
| Bugbrooke removed from Junior Cup |
|
Bugbrooke have been removed from the Northamptonshire Junior Cup after calling off last their scheduled quarter final tie against Corby Cottingham on 8th January. The Badgers' squad was decimated by a flu virus within the club but fulfilled their reserve fixture the same day.
Corby Cottingham have home advantage against Eye in the semis on 5th February while Blisworth host Stewarts & Lloyds Reserves in the other tie. |
| Transfers to 14/1/05 |
|
126. Dale Watkins - Blackstones to Yaxley
127. Ryan O'Neil - Wootton to Potton 128. Richard Thompson - Harrowby to Blackstones 129. Ian Dunn - Spalding to Harrowby 130. Ian McGregor - Daventry to Long Buckby 131. Sam Northern - Desborough to Raunds 132. Scott Loach - Bourne to Boston 133. Nathan Wood - Northampton Spencer to Bugbrooke 134. Gary Clark - Irchester to Desborough 135. Clive Woodland - Wootton to St Neots 136. Keith Gray - Bourne to Deeping 137. Gary Phillips - Spalding to Holbeach |
| Woodford through to semis |
|
Goals from Ian King and Tony Burt saw Woodford spring a Knockout Cup surprise on 11 December, beating Desborough 2-1 at Byfield Road. George Donnelly replied for Ar Tarn but the Reds held on to their lead to reach the last four for the first time. |
| Watkins fires Yaxley back to a share of pole |
|
Yaxley joined Cogenhoe on the 51 point mark at the top of the Premier Division on 8 January, a Dale Watkins double securing a 2-1 home win over Ford Sports who replied through manager Shane Geary. A late Martin Wormall goal gave Harrowby an important 3-2 success at Stotfold. Dom Revill and Jason Sedlan had twice given the Arrows the lead with Paul Garrett and sub Lee Allinson twice hauling the Eagles on terms. Desborough kept up their challenge with a 2-1 home win over St Neots. Danny Steed and George Donnelly netted for Ar Tarn with Ronnie Fortune scoring a last minute penalty for the visitors.
A Micky Nuttell penalty kept Boston on the up with a 1-0 home win over Wootton while Rob Speechley, Danny Hussey and Tom Gosling shared the goals as Holbeach beat Deeping 3-0 at Carters Park. Adie Greatrex and Danny Finlay saw Long Buckby to a 2-1 home win over Newport Pagnell who had Ben Hill on the mark. Daventry are five points adrift at the bottom after losing 2-1 at home to Northampton Spencer whose matchwinner was two goal Darren Frost. Nathan Crowder replied for Town. Raunds battled back to draw 2-2 at fellow strugglers Bourne. Miles Mason and Jim Foreman twice fired the Wakes ahead with Ben Armstrong and Mike McKenzie twice equalising. Woodford's poor run continued with a 2-0 defeat at Blackstones, Kevin Ainslie on target either side of the interval. |
| Saints move six points clear |
|
St Ives moved six points clear at the top of Division One on 8 January with a 4-3 success at Thrapston. Three goals from in form Chris Ewles and one from Graeme Thackray gave the Saints their first win at Chancery Lane in 14 seasons, the home side replying with a James Blake double and Scott Atkinson strike. Another hat trick hero was Kempston's Chris Boniface as the Walnut Boys beat Sleaford 4-3 at Hillgrounds. Matt Kent was the other Kempston marksman with Steve Garfoot, Alex Popple and Shaun Popple the visitors' scorers. Irchester and Huntingdon drew 1-1 at Alfred Street, Gary Evans and Gary Marheineke the respective scorers while a James Westley double saw Higham to a second successive victory, 2-1 at home to Olney who had Greg Hardie on the scoresheet. The match between Rothwell Corinthians and ON Chenecks was abandoned after ten minutes due to injury to the referee. |
| Robins end Cooks double bid |
|
Premier Division leaders Cogenhoe's double hopes were ended as they exited the Knockout Cup on 8 January, losing 3-2 at Buckingham in Round Two. Craig Caldwell-Smith gave the Robins victory in extra time after their two goal interval lead with goals from Martin Young and Simon Underwood was cancelled out by late replies from Donovan Reed and Fazel Koriya. In another Second Round tie a Pete Smith brace and Grant Stewart effort saw Sileby get the better of Eynesbury 3-1, Paul Carey replying for Rovers.
In the final 1st Round tie Potton overwhelmed Burton Park 7-0 with three goals from Steve Kuhne and two apiece from Pete Saunders and Luke Donnelly. |
| Semi final places for Blisworth Eye and S&L |
|
The Northants Junior Cup semi-final line up will again feature four Eagle Bitter UCL sides. In the quarter finals on 8 January Blisworth beat Whitworths 7-6 on penalties after two hours without a goal, while first half goals from Steve Phillips and Dino Salerno (penalty) saw Eye to a 2-1 win at Milton. Two Richard Chwaszcza goals and one from Paul Simpson saw S&L Reserves beat Weldon 3-0 while the tie between Bugbrooke and Corby Cottingham was postponed due to a flu epidemic among the Badgers playing staff. |
| League agree commercial deal |
|
The Eagle Bitter United Counties League are delighted to announce the agreement to outsource the entire commercial function of the league to Sports Marketing Services (UK) Limited.
This agreement is for a minimum of five years and includes the negotiation of all sponsorship and commercial activities. John Weeks, Chairman of the Eagle Bitter United Counties League said: 'We are delighted that after lengthy negotiations we have secured existing income and therefore this agreement respresents a no risk venture for the league and member clubs. The restructuring of non league football by the Football Association has meant new challenges for both leagues and member clubs alike and I am delighted that the Eagle Bitter UCL committee have made this progressive move, one which I am sure will be followed by other leagues. The Eagle Bitter UCL is recognised as the premier league in our catchment areas and in today's market it is essential that we have full time professional support to exploit the obvious potential for commercial partnerships.' The Chairman of Sports Marketing Services, Kim Barnard who has experience of the Eagle Bitter UCL with both Cogenhoe United and Blisworth, states:- 'This is both an exciting and challenging project and looking forward to the longer term SMS UK Ltd has been created to address the potential for non league football commercial activity. Initially it will be managed by my other business FACS Marketing Services. This company has been in operation for over ten years and has established contacts within major branded manufacturers, which will be of benefit to the Eagle Bitter UCL commercial agreement. Our programme will raise the profile of the league, which will in turn benefit member clubs in their campaigns to gain more sponsorship.' The research and planning commences from 1 January 2005 and should anyone have any questions or queries regarding this press release they should contact the league's General Secretary Roger Gamble on 01604-637766. |
| Huntingdonshire Premier Cup draw |
|
First Round
STOTFOLD v ST IVES; Needingworth v EYNESBURY; Biggleswade United v Ortonians; Ramsey v Great Paxton; Biggleswade Town v WOOTTON; Langford v ST NEOTS; HUNTINGDON v Godmanchester. Bye: YAXLEY. |
| December award winners |
|
Premier Division Manager of the Month winner is Adam Sandy of Cogenhoe whose side ended 2004 on top of the table after collecting 13 points from five matches during the month.
The Division One award goes to Warren Everdell, player manager of St Ives. His side picked up ten points from four league games during the month to top the year end chart. St Ives have a double reason to celebrate as their in form marksman Chris Ewles was joint winner of the Goalscorer of the Month award with Buckingham's Reuben Max-Grant. The duo both scored five times in four December games. |
| Cuckoos held at home |
|
The 28 December action saw Yaxley miss out on a return to the Premier summit by drawing 0-0 at home to Raunds who collected their first point in seven outings. Holbeach's six match winning run was halted by Boston Town's 4-1 Tattershall Road success. Two goal Danny Matson, Lee Orrey and a Paul Langford own goal gave the Poachers victory, Nick Keeble scoring a penalty for the Tigers.
Rothwell Corinthians drew 1-1 with Corby Cottingham in Division One, Tony Ielapi the home scorer with Graham Clark replying for Cottingham. In the evening match a Matt Kent goal gave Kempston a 1-0 home win over Olney. |
| Freeze spoils holiday programme |
|
With eleven out of 16 matches scheduled for 27 December postponed due to frozen pitches more games were lost to the weather than in the whole season so far.
Cogenhoe moved to the top of the Premier Division with a 3-1 success at Northampton Spencer who took an earlier lead through Matthew Ablett. Rob Goldring and Darren Collins had the Cooks in front at the break with a late Richard Turner goal sealing the win for Cogenhoe. Desborough kept up their challenge with a 1-0 win at S&L, George Donnelly the Ar Tarn matchwinner, while Lee Ellison and Carl Griffiths were on target as Deeping won 2-1 at Blackstones whose scorer was Aaron Ridout. Stones pair Mark Wood and Anton Sgroi and Rangers' Younis Tajer were all red carded in this one. Division One leaders St Ives were held 2-2 by visiting Huntingdon. Jon Lee and Chris Ewles gave the Saints a two goal first half lead with Gavin Marsh and Paul Nevill replying after the break. Phil Anderson was the Eye marksman as they beat Sleaford 1-0 at Chestnut Avenue. |
| Bank holiday kick off times |
|
Monday 27 December
Premier Division Blackstones v Deeping (3); Bourne v Harrowby (2); Buckingham v Newport Pagnell (3); Daventry v Ford Sports (12.30); Northampton Spencer v Cogenhoe (12); St Neots v Wootton (12); Stewarts & Lloyds v Desborough (1); Stotfold v Potton (3); Woodford v Long Buckby (12). Division One Bugbrooke v Blisworth (11); Eye v Sleaford (1); Eynesbury v Higham (11); St Ives v Huntingdon (3); Sileby v ON Chenecks (4); Thrapston v Burton PW (11); Whitworths v Irchester (11). Tuesday 28 December Premier Division Boston v Holbeach (3); Yaxley v Raunds (12). Division One Kempston v Olney (7.45); Rothwell Corinthians v Corby Cottingham (12). |
| Transfers to 25/12/04 |
|
124. Kris Jones - Bourne to Boston
125. Dean Chapman - Wootton to St Neots |
| S&L halt Cogenhoe's winning run |
|
Morning leaders Cogenhoe's six match winning run was halted by Stewarts & Lloyds at Compton Park on 18 December. Darren Collins and Elliott Sandy were the Cogenhoe scorers in a 2-2 draw, Chris Montgomery and Pete Sneddon replying for S&L. Cogenhoe's slip enabled Yaxley to return to the top with a 2-0 success at Boston Town, Mark Paul's brace giving the Cuckoos an excellent victory. Harrowby opened up a seven point gap over fourth placed Potton by beating them 3-2 at Harrowby Fields, Ian Williams scored two and Martin Wormall one for the Arrows with James Hatch and Brett Donnelly replying. Desborough stay in touch after a 3-1 home defeat of Northampton Spencer. Grant Mawby, Jamie Gilsenan and Bryan Jeffery scored the Ar Tarn goals, Darren Frost replying.
St Neots won 2-1 at Woodford, Steve Jelley and Tom Hobbs netting for the Saints either side of a Nicky Gordon reply for the Reds, while Long Buckby were 3-2 home winners over Buckingham. Darren Harmon, Aidy Mann (penalty) and Danny Finlay scored for Buckby, Reuben Max-Grant and Meshach Cole replying for the Robins. Second half goals from Nick Keeble and Tom Gosling saw Holbeach win 2-0 at Ford Sports, their sixth successive league victory. Daventry stay bottom after a 4-2 defeat at Stotfold. A Gary Walker brace and one apiece from Gareth Cottenden and Paul Garrett gave the Eagles victory, Dave Stone and Dave Turner replying for Town. Raunds remain next to bottom after a 2-0 home reverse against Deeping who had Carl Griffiths and Lee Ellison )penalty) on target. Wootton and Bourne drew 2-2 at Weston Park, Lee Hottinger and Leon Cashman twice equalising for Blue Cross who trailed to goals from Wakes pair Jason Harrison and Jason Gough. Blackstones beat Newport Pagnell 1-0 at Lincoln Road, Marcus Kierle scoring the goal. |
| Saints top Division One |
|
St Ives will top Division One at Christmas after a 5-0 win at Burton Park on 18 December. Graeme Thackray, Chris Ewles, Glyn Cooke, Liam Kennett and Jon Lee shared the goals. Two Tony Ielapi strikes and one from Steve Chilton gave Rothwell Corinthians second slot after a 3-1 victory at Bugbrooke who had Paul Sloley on target. Morning top two Sileby and Whitworths drew 1-1 at Fernie Fields, Mike Battams' opener for Rangers cancelled out by Jason Crawley.
Blisworth surprised Thrapston 1-0 at Chancery Lane, Jason Bradshaw the Railwaymens' matchwinner while Eye won 3-1 at Eynesbury with Darren Bradley, Steve Phillips and Dino Salerno on the scoresheet, Stuart Harper the Rovers scorer. Corby Cottingham made it nine matches unbeaten with a 4-2 home success over Higham. A Paul Doherty brace and singles from Dave Donativo and Bobby Drain gave Cottingham the points, Scott Freeman and Andy Munday replying for the Lankies. Sleaford's Jamie Shaw is on 21 goals for the season after hitting a hat trick in his side's 7-2 demolition of Olney. Other home scorers were Steve Garfoot, Steve Rowland and two goal Robin Holderness, Sam Callear and Steve Foster on target for the Nurserymen. A Mick Daniels own goal gave Huntingdon a 2-1 Jubilee Park win over Kempston after Carl Foreman had cancelled out Matt Kent's opener for the Walnut Boys. At Alfred Street goals from Charlie Pipe and Gary Evans saw Irchester to a 2-1 win over ON Chenecks whodse marksman was Jamie Nuttall. |
| Transfers to 18/12/04 |
|
121. Nicky Hurst - Wootton to St Neots
122. Glen Gibb - Ford Sports to Long Buckby 123. Younis Tajer - Yaxley to Deeping |
| Ar Tarn reach last eight |
|
On 14 December Desborough reached the last eight of the Knockout Cup after a second half comeback dashed Thrapston's giantkilling bid. Goals from Jim Wilson and Jim Bailey gave the lower grade side an interval lead after they trailed to an Eddie Mills opener but after the break a Jamie Gilsenan double, Matty Curtis header and Mills penalty gave Desborough a 5-2 victory. in the Hinchingbrooke Cup 1st Round Stotfold lost 3-2 at Barton Rovers who snatched victory late on after Paul Garrett and Lee Allinson twice equalised for the Eagles.
On 15 December Buckingham made a surprise exit from the Buckingham Charity Cup losing 1-0 to Winslow. In the North Beds Charity Cup 1st Round Wootton blitzed Langford 7-2 after trailing by two goals at the break. Clive Woodland scored three, Darek Jozwiak two and Chris Johnson and Ben Chambers one apiece. Long Buckby paid the penalty for fielding most of their fringe players in the annual Andy Humphries Memorial Cup match losing 4-2 to Northants Combination champions Moulton. Justin McKenzie and Ashley Bradshaw scored for the Bucks as they lost the trophy for the first time since its inception in 1993. |
| FA Vase 4th Round draw |
|
Bury Town v POTTON UNITED; Stourbridge v DESBOROUGH TOWN
Ties to be played on 22 January 2005. |
| Desborough and Potton through in Vase |
|
Desborough and Potton reached the last 32 of the FA Vase with 3rd Round victories on 11 December. Ar Tarn won 2-0 at Abingdon Town with second half goals from Matty Curtis and Grant Mawby, while Nathan Buckland and Brett Donnelly were on target as the Royals beat South Western League champions St Blazey 2-1 at The Hollow.
Woodford's best ever Vase run ended as they were beaten 1-0 at Brislington. Tom Gosling and Darren Cundy were on the mark for Holbeach against Thackley, but a strong finish from the Yorkshire side saw them progress by a 4-2 score at Carters Park. A hugely depleted St Neots side exited 4-3 to Soham after extra time. Russell Lawes and Marcus Cumberbatch twice equalised for the Saints in normal time and Jason Meeds gave them the lead early in extra time before the visitors hit back to win through. |
| Buckby record bid fails |
|
Long Buckby's bid for a club record eighth successive Premier win came to grief on 11 December as they lost 2-0 at morning leaders Yaxley who ran out winners with early strikes from Ricky Hailstone and Ashley Stevens. Despite their victory the Cuckoos lost pole position to Cogenhoe who are top on goal difference after a 7-0 romp at Bourne. Richard Turner scored a hat trick and now tops the divisional scorecharts with 16 goals. He was joined on the scoresheet by Roy Anderson, Darren Collins, Rob Goldring and Elliott Sandy. Third placed Harrowby were held to a 0-0 draw at Newport Pagnell, now without a win in nine matches. In mid table Buckingham and Stotfold drew 1-1 at Ford Meadow, Reuben Max-Grant's opener for the Robins matched by a Wes Byrne reply, while Scott Coleman and Josh Urquhart saw Northampton Spencer to a 2-0 victory against Ford Sports at Kingsthorpe Mill.
Daventry are four points adrift at the bottom after losing 4-3 at Boston who took the points with a Paul Goodhand double and one each from Micky Nuttell and Lee Orrey. Two goal James Harri and a James Brader own goal counted for Daventry. Raunds are next to bottom after a 3-2 reverse at Blackstones. Michael Boyle-Chong and Craig Thurlow scored for the Shopmates but a Marcus Keirle brace and James Betts effort won it for Stones. Wootton halted an eight match losing run by drawing 1-1 at Deeping. A late Ben Chambers strike stopped the rot for Blue Cross who trailed to a Scott Woods opener for Rangers. |
| Top five seperated by just one point |
|
With most clubs now around the halfway mark in their Division One fixtures half of the division will still consider themselves title contenders. Following the 11 December fixtures just one point seperates the top five clubs. Sileby head a trio of clubs on 35 points on goal difference after a 4-1 success at Higham. Two Adam Taylor goals and singles from Glen Turner and Grant Stewart gave Rangers the points, Dave Kew on target for the Lankies. Whitworths are second after first half strikes from Scott Whitney and James Daldy secured a 2-0 home win over Eye. St Ives are the third club sharing pole, they made it seven matches unbeaten with a 3-1 home defeat of Bugbrooke, a Chris Ewles brace and Jon Lee effort earning victory with Paul Sloley replying for the Badgers. Rothwell Corinthians are a point back in fourth after a 4-0 home win over Olney, Dave Townsend scoring two and Kevin Fox and Jim Partridge one apiece. Morning leaders Thrapston slipped to fifth by drawing 2-2 at home to Eynesbury. Carl Albone and Jamie Donald gave the visitors a two goal lead with Zeke Lyford and Dave Harding hauling Thrapston on terms.
Blisworth were held 1-1 by visiting Kempston, an early Matt Collins effort for the Railwaymen matched by Matt Kent's second half reply. Corby Cottingham drew 1-1 at home to Huntingdon, Sean Brennan salvaging a point for the home side after Paul Bass gave the visitors the lead. A lone Steve Rowland goal saw Sleaford to a 1-0 home win over Irchester while ON Chenecks made it four matches unbeaten with a 4-0 home win over bottom club Burton Park. Scott Barczewski, Jamie Nuttall, Lee West and Matt Cayton shared the Checks goals. |
| Transfers to 11/12/04 |
|
113. Steve Corry - Wootton to St Neots
114. Andy Taylor - Wootton to St Neots 115. Simon Claridge - St Ives to St Neots 116. Alex Giscombe - St Neots to Wootton 117. Harjinder Dhesi - Daventry to Long Buckby 118. John Firman - Deeping to Yaxley 119. Anton Sgroi - Deeping to Blackstones 120. Jon Inwood - Northampton Spencer to Long Buckby |
| County cup draws |
|
Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy - quarter final (by 28 January)
Reading Town v BUCKKINGHAM. Huntingdonshire Scott-Gatty Cup - semi-finals (7 February) YAXLEY RESERVES v Great Paxton Reserves; St Neots Reserves v EYNESBURY RESERVES. Huntingdonshire Benevolent Cup - semi-finals (13 March) St Neots Reserves/HUNTINGDON RESERVES v EYNESBURY RESERVES. Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup semi-finals COGENHOE v Rothwell Town (8/2); Brackley v RAUNDS (9/2). Northamptonshire Lower Junior Cup quarter finals (15 January) DAVENTRY RESERVES v Whitefield Norpol; Earls Barton United v WHITWORTHS RESERVES; HIGHAM RESERVES v Geddington WMC. |
| Long runs continue |
|
The 8 November Premier action saw two clubs extend lengthy winning runs and another's losing sequence grow. A lone Danny Finlay strike gave Long Buckby a 1-0 home win over Northampton Spencer, their seventh successive win. Holbeach made it five wins in a row, beating Bourne 4-2 at Carters Park. Tom Gosling and Shaun Keeble scored two apiece for the Tigers with Scott McKenzie and Jason Harrison replying. Wootton are now second from bottom after suffering their ninth successive defeat, 2-0 at home to Buckingham, who took the points with two first half goals from Reuben Max-Grant. |
| Clark takes over at S&L |
|
Stewarts & Lloyds have handed Rob Clark the managerial reins at Occupation Road for the rest of the season. Clark was on the S&L backroom staff briefly in Elwyn Roberts' managerial reign and has also managed Rothwell Corinthians and Wellingborough. |
| Yaxley cling on to pole |
|
The 7 December action saw Yaxley cling on to pole position on goals scored after drawing 2-2 at Harrowby. Scott Taylor and Dom Revill twice gave the Arrows the lead with Ricky Hailstone and Mark Paul responding with Cuckoos equalisers. Cogenhoe trail Yaxley on goals scored after their 1-0 home win over Stotfold, but have two matches in hand. Rob Goldring scored the vital goal just before the interval. Potton kept up their challenge with a 3-0 success at Raunds, Brett Donnelly's 14th goal of the season and a James Hatch brace earning the Royals the points.
Desborough were held 1-1 by visiting Ford Sports, Matty Curtis scoring from the spot to cancel out Dave Bond's opener for the visitors. St Neots and Newport Psgnell drew 2-2 at Rowley Park, Russell Lawes and Vince Petty on target for the Saints with Ben Hill scoring both Swans' replies. S&L picked up three much needed points at home to Blackstones, Richard Forbes and Derek Simmons giving the Corby side a 2-1 win after Kevin Ainslie gave Stones an interval advantage. Fog caused the abandonment of the Boston-Deeping match after just seven minutes. Neil Champlovier and Damon Gariff were on target as Woodford lost 3-2 at Rothwell Town in the Northants Hillier Senior Cup quarter final. |
| Fox quits at Stewarts & Lloyds |
|
Kevin Fox resigned as manager of Stewarts & Lloyds on 4 December following his side's 4-1 reverse against Stotfold. Fox had taken charge at Occupation Road in May 2003 following the departure of long serving manager Elwyn Roberts. Fox becomes the ninth manager to leave his club this season, and the bottom seven clubs in the Premier have now all had changes at the helm since the season kicked off. |
| Bottom five cut adrift |
|
A five point gap has opened up over the bottom five clubs in the Premier Division following the 4 December matches. Only basement boys Daventry earned any reward in the lower reaches, drawing 1-1 with Buckingham at Elderstubbs. Dave Lancaster gave Daventry the lead they were denied victory by a Reuben Max-Grant equaliser for the Robins. Next to bottom Stewarts & Lloyds crashed 4-1 at home to Stotfold whose fourth successive win was secured by goals from Wes Byrne, Lee Allinson, Steve Cook and Gareth Cottenden before Greig McIlwain's penalty consolation. New Wootton boss Phil Silvestri saw his side go down 3-0 at Ford Sports who had Ian Pearce on target twice and Dave Bond once. Raunds became the latest victims of Long Buckby's revival, going down 4-2 at Station Road despite twice leading through Craig Thurlow. Aidy Mann and Darren Harmon scored two apiece in Buckby's victory. Bourne lost 3-1 at home to St Neots whose manager Kenny Davidson made a winning start at the helm thanks to goals from Danny Griggs, Vince Petty and Barry Dellar. Scott McKenzie replied for the Wakes.
Yaxley moved back to the top beating visiting Woodford 2-0 with Ashley Stevens and Peter Miller on target, while Cogenhoe are second after goals from Richard Turner, Roy Anderson and Darren Collins saw them to a 3-0 home win over Deeping. Cogenhoe are now unbeaten in eight matches. Potton lost ground with a goalless draw at home to Blackstones, while Desborough dropped two points in a 2-2 stalemate at Newport Pagnell. Skipper Gary Flinn scored both Swans goals with Grant Mawby on target twice for Ar Tarn. |
| Two points seperate top five |
|
Just two points seperated the top five in Division One after the 4 December matches. Morning leaders Rothwell Corinthians slipped to fifth after losing 3-1 at Sileby. Adam Taylor, Mike Battams and Tyron Wilson gave Rangers the points and second place in the table, after Kevin Fox netted for Corinths. Thrapston are back on top after winning 3-2 at Kempston. James Blake, Dave Harding and Scott Atkinson were on target for Thrapston, Mick Daniels and Chris Boniface replying for the Walnut Boys. Whitworths won 4-1 at Huntingdon to go third, Sol Benjamin scoring two with James Daldy and Tom Francis the other Flourmen marksmen before Ross Sommers scored a late consolation. St Ives kept up their challenge with a 4-1 victory at Sleaford. Chris Ewles, two goal Graeme Thackray and Liam Kennett scored for the Saints with Jamie Shaw scoring his 18th of the season for the home side.
Eye were the day's highest scorers, thrashing Higham 6-1 at Chestnut Avenue. Dino Salerno scored twice for United with Trevor Smith, Steve Phillips, Phil Anderson and Dave Cowling also on target. Danny Bird replied for the Lankies. Blisworth's march was halted in a 1-1 stalemate at Olney, Jamie Rutherford's late strike for the Burserymen cancelling out Matt Collins' opener for the Railwaymen. Corby Cottingham are unbeaten in eight after a 2-0 success at Burton Park, Bibby Drain and Steve Brydon on target. A Damian Grant spot kick and Lee Gotch effort saw Irchester to a 2-1 home win over Eynesbury who had Jamie Donald on the mark, while two late penalties from Paul Sloley gave Bugbrooke a point in a 2-2 home draw with ON Chenecks whose scorers were Dan Clarke and Paul Tebbutt. |
| Arrows reach first final |
|
Harrowby reached their first ever Lincolnshire Senior Cup A final on 4 December, beating Holbeach 6-5 on penalties at Carters Park after two hours' play failed to produce a goal. In the final the Arrows will meet Winterton who surprised Boston Town 3-0 at Tattershall Road. |
| Transfers to 4/12/04 |
|
101. Dean Trowbridge - Newport Pagnell to Olney
102. Paul Bryant - Wootton to St Neots 103. Vince Petty - Wootton to St Neots 104. Jason Mannion - Wootton to St Neots 105. Martyn Cundy - Bourne to Holbeach 106. Gary Robinson - Rothwell Town to Burton PW 107. James Hastie - Rothwell Town to Burton PW 108. Leon Cashman - Buckingham to Wootton 109. Danny Duggan - Raunds to Sileby 110. Mike Newbury - St Neots to Wootton 111. Dave Conway - Blisworth to Daventry 112. Ben Collins - Daventry to Ford Sports |
| November award winners |
|
Premier Division manager of the month for November is Aidy Mann of Long Buckby who led his side to five successive wins during the month. Eynesbury's Steve Galbraith is the Division One winner, his side won two league games during November and made progress in both the Knockout and Hunts Senior Cups. The Goalscorer of the Month award went to Cogenhoe's Richard Turner who netted eight goals in domestic action. |
| Ar Tarn bow out to star studded Posh |
|
The 30 November action saw Desborough go down 5-1 to Peterborough United in the Maunsell Cup semi-final. Mark Pallett scored for Ar Tarn with Peter Kennedy (penalty), Callum Willock, Andy Clarke and Chris Kanu scoring for Posh who also had a Scott Munton own goal in their tally. Hinchingbrooke Cup holders Yaxley won 1-0 at St Ives with an Ashley Stevens goal but North Beds Charity Cup holders Stotfold lost 1-0 to Potton whose marksman was Gary Jackson.
Blackstones booked a last eight place in the Knockout Cup on 1 December, goals from Kevin Ainslie and Dale Watkins giving the 2003 winners a 2-1 win over Bourne who took an early lead through Mark Wilson. In the Hinchingbrooke Cup Wootton manager Phil Silvestri enjoyed his first win in charge as a Darek Jozwiak double and Chris Johnson strike saw off Biggleswade United 3-2. |
| Huntingdonshire Senior Cup quarter final draw |
|
YAXLEY v Godmanchester; ST IVES v EYNESBURY; Bluntisham v Brampton; Ortonians v Hotpoint.
Ties to be played 5 February 2005. |
| Arrows back on top - Royals run ends |
|
Harrowby took advantage of Yaxley's cup involvement to return to the top of the Premier on 27 November with a 3-0 win at Raunds. Martin Wormall, Gary Walters and Ian Williams shared the goals. Potton's ten match unbeaten run came to an end at Boston Town, Lee Orrey the Poachers matchwinner in a 1-0 success. Cogenhoe though maintained their winning run with a 2-0 victory at Buckingham, Darren Collins and Richard Turner scoring first half goals. Desborough's challenge suffered a setback as resurgent Long Buckby won 3-2 at the Waterworks Field. Darren Harmon, Aidy Mann and Jon Crockett gave the Bucks the points, Grant Mawby and Matty Curtis the home marksmen.
The Byfield Road derby saw Woodford and Ford Sports draw 2-2. Rick Kimbell and Ben Milner were the Reds scorers with Dave Bond and Jamie Moss replying for the Motormen. A late Adam Braybrook goal gave Holbeach a 2-1 success at basement boys Daventry after Tigers boss Shaun Keeble's opener was cancelled out by Dave Stone. Stotfold are another side putting together a winning run, they beat Bourne 4-1 at Roker. A Lee Allinson brace and efforts from Paul Garrett and Wes Byrne gave the Eagles the points, Mark Wilson scoring a late Wakes' consolation. Blackstones were the day's highest scorers, thrashing Wootton 6-0. Two goals apiece from Kevin Ainslie and Marcus Keirle and singles from Dale Watkins and Matty Doyle sent Blue Cross spinning to a seventh successive defeat. Adam Wigley's late strike gave Northampton Spencer a 1-0 success at Stewarts & Lloyds. Newport Pagnell looked set to end a run of six matches without a win when Michael Lyon fired them in front at Deeping, but a late injury suffered by Rangers keeper Ricky Dent saw the match abandoned with six minutes remaining. |
| Sileby hit the goal trail |
|
After three league and cup defeats Sileby bounced back to mark the first use of their floodlights with an 8-0 drubbing of Burton Park at Fernie Fields. Glen Turner and Graham Cottle both hit hat tricks with Mike Battams and Paul Fountain also on the mark. The division's other leading lights had days to forget. Rothwell Corinthians stay top after a 1-1 home draw with Bugbrooke who went in front through Robert Charlton, Tony Ielapi replying for the pacesetters. Second placed Thrapston lost 3-2 to visitors Eye whose last minute matchwinner was Ian Fovargue. Zeke Lyford and James Blake twice gave Thrapston the lead, Dino Salerno and Ashley Favell twice levelling for the Peterborough side. Whitworths were held 1-1 at Corby Cottingham where Dave Trimble's second half goal earned the home side a point, cancelling out James Daldy's first half effort for the Flourmen.
Blisworth edged out visitors Huntingdon 1-0 with a late Scott Coleman goal, while improving ON Chenecks surprised Sleaford 3-2 at Billing Road. Jamie Nuttell, Peter Green and Lee West gave Chenecks the points, Sleaford replying with Jamie Shaw's 17th of the season and a Carl Sedlan strike. The Vine Hill Drive derby saw Higham and Irchester draw 0-0 while struggling pair Olney and Kempston also finished scoreless at East Street. |
| Holders need extra time - Saints lose in upset |
|
Huntingdonshire Senior Cup 2nd Round action on 27 November saw one upset and another narrowly avoided. Last seasons's runners-up St Neots lost 2-0 to Hotpoint who repeated their 2003 final win over the Saints. Holders Yaxley needed extra time to win 3-1 at minnows Needingworth. The Cambs League side were first to score but Ricky Hailstone's penalty earned extra time with the Cuckoos securing victory with strikes from Hailstone and Mark Paul. Eynesbury were 3-0 home winners over Great Paxton with two goals from Jamie Donald and one from Nick Gibson while St Ives progressed 2-0 at Somersham, Liam Kennett and Graeme Thackray on the scoresheet. |
| Transfers to 27/11/04 |
|
97. Tom Gosling - Spalding to Holbeach
98. Steve Diggin - ON Chenecks to Cogenhoe 99. Dale Watkins - Yaxley to Blackstones 100. Ian Ling - Spalding to Bourne |
| Northants Junior Cup - quarter final draw |
|
Ties to be played on 8 January 2005.
Milton v EYE UNITED; STEWARTS & LLOYDS RESERVES v Weldon; BUGBROOKE v CORBY COTTINGHAM; WHITWORTHS v BLISWORTH. |
| Poachers share Stanwell Cup |
|
Boston shared the Bill Stanwell Memorial Cup on 24 November, drawing 2-2 at Wyberton with Ben Harris and Lee Orrey on target for the Poachers.
Tuesday's cup action saw Kempston lose 1-0 to Langford in the 1st Round of the Hinchingbrooke Cup while Eynesbury suffered a 5-3 extra time defeat in the South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1st Round, exiting to Colney Heath for the second season running. Dave Fisk, Mark Garwood and Paul Carey shared the Rovers goals. |
| Davidson joins managerial merry go round... |
|
Kenny Davidson has joined the managerial merry go round, resigning after 18 months at the Wootton helm to take the reins at St Neots who recently lost the services of another ex-Wootton boss Jon Taylor to Arlesey. Davidson is one of the most experienced managers on the local non-league circuit with spells at Sandy, Biggleswade Town, Potton, Kempston and Stotfold behind him. Davidson will take charge at Rowley Park on 29 November. |
| ....Silvestri steps up at Wootton |
|
Kenny Davidson's departure from Weston Park makes Wootton the seventh top flight club to change managers since the season kicked off just 16 weeks ago. Blue Cross have promoted from within handing reserve boss Phil Silvestri the top job. Silvestri made his name as a prolific UCL marksman in the early eighties with Wootton, Kempston and Rushden Town. He has spent the last 18 months as reserve boss at Wootton and led them to the inaugural Bedfordshire Reserve League title last season. |
| Backroom shuffle for Bourne |
|
Former Harrowby and Spalding manager Nicky Andersen has resigned as assistant manager at Bourne. Taking his place is ex-Harrowby reserve team manager Steve Joseph who has been working in a scouting capacity for the Wakes. |
| Cogenhoe maintain challenge |
|
Cogenhoe maintained their title challenge on 23 November, moving up to third place in the Premier with a 5-0 drubbing of Wootton. Richard Turner scored two with a goal apiece from Roy Anderson, Rob Goldring and Jamie Wright. Holbeach also went nap in a 5-1 success at Stewarts & Lloyds, who were first to score through James Morrow. A Kevin Childs hat trick and debut double from Tom Gosling gave the Tigers an emphatic victory. Northampton Spencer's Darren Frost scored twice for Northampton Spencer as they saw off Daventry 3-0, Adam Wigley also on the scoresheet for the Millers. Stotfold beat Raunds 2-0 at Roker with second half goals from Wes Byrne and Luke Gregson while Ford Sports and Buckingham drew 0-0 at Royal Oak Way.
Twenty four hours later a Bobby Lewsam brace gave Deeping a 2-1 derby success at Bourne who replied through Darren Munton. |
| Byron's List - Premier attendance survey 2003-4 |
|
Byron Evans has once again produced a fascinating survey of non league attendances for the 2003-04 season.
37,449 spectators watched Premier Division football, an average of 81 per match, up from 75 in the 2002-03 season. The Fenland derby matches between Holbeach and Spalding drew the best crowds, 800 at Carters Park and 701 at the Halley Stewart Field. These matches were the third and sixth best supported games in the fourth tier of the non league pyramid across the country, apart from matches involving AFC Wimbledon. Spalding were the best supported club in the division with an average attendance of 174. The Tulips were also the best supported club on the road, drawing an average of 148 spectators to their away games and providing six other clubs with their best gates. Lincolnshire clubs filled the top five places in the attendance lists, while 13 of the 21 clubs for which comparable 2002-03 data was available reported increases in crowds. Boston Town showed the biggest improvement, attracting an extra 66 spectators per match, with Wootton reporting the biggest fall of 54 spectators on average. Average crowds were as follows:- 1. Spalding 174; 2. Holbeach 139; 3. Harrowby 123; 4. Boston Town 112; 5. Deeping 109; 6. Buckingham 103; 7. Stotfold 92; 8. Newport Pagnell 84; 9.l Cogenhoe 84; 10. Woodford 81; 11. St Neots 80; 12. Raunds 75; 13. Blackstones 69; 14. Yaxley 68; 15. Daventry 65; 16. Bourne 58; 17. Northampton Spencer 56; 18. Desborough 50; 19. Wootton 49; 20. Stewarts & Lloyds 38; 21. Ford Sports 33; 22. Long Buckby 30. The full survey, covering 876 clubs, is available from Byron Evans at 12 Castle High, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA61 2SP, at a cost of £6. Cheques should be made payable to 'Haverfordwest County AFC'. |
| Byron's List - Div. 1 attendance survey 2003-4 |
|
Byron Evans has again produced a fascinating review of non-league attendances for the 2003-04 season.
Division One clubs have for the most part been included for the first time although no data was received from Blisworth. The remaining 289 matches in the division attracted 12,885 spectators, an average of 44 per match, with the biggest attendance recorded 160 at the derby between Huntingdon and St Ives. Average attendances were as follows: 1. Eynesbury 80; 2. Huntingdon 64; 3. Potton 60; 4. Kempston 55; 5. St Ives 53; 6. Thrapston 49; 7. Burton Park 46; 8=. Higham and Rothwell Corinthians 45; 10. Whitworths 42; 11=. Irchester and Olney 40; 13. ON Chenecks 33; 14. Bugbrooke 30; 15. Sileby 28; 16. Eye 25; 17. Cottingham 20. Irchester attracted the best away gates, an average of 48. A copy of the survey, which features 876 clubs, can by obtained from Byron Evans at 12 Castle High, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA61 2SP. The price is £6, cheques payable to 'Haverfordwest County AFC'. |
| FA Vase - Third Round draw |
|
Ties to be played on 11 December.
HOLBEACH UNITED v Thackley; Abingdon Town v DESBOROUGH TOWN; ST NEOTS TOWN v Soham Town Rangers; POTTON UNITED v St Blazey; Brislington or Torrington v WOODFORD UNITED. |
| Five win in Vase 2nd Round |
|
Five clubs will go into Monday's FA Vase 3rd Round draw after success in Round Two on 20 November. The tally equals that from the 2002-03 campaign and the representation was last bettered in the 1983-84 season when eight clubs reached the last 64.
The two casualties both bowed out at home. Boston Town's goal touch deserted them in a 1-0 loss to Mickleover while Stotfold gave double finalists AFC Sudbury a scare or two before exiting by a single goal. Woodford, in only their second season in the competition, saw off Eton Manor 2-0 with first half goals from midweek signings Neil Champlovier and Ben Milner while Desborough's tie at Carlton was as good as won within 18 minutes, Bryan Jeffery, Tom Mills and Jamie Gilsenan all popping up with early strikes to secure a 3-0 victory. Potton goal ace Brett Donnelly hit a first half hat trick as Potton powered to a 4-1 victory at Edgware, Gary Jackson also on the scoresheet before the break. St Neots produced the comeback of the day to get the better of Potters Bar, 3-2 at Rowley Park. Two down early in the second half, two goals in 60 seconds from Ronnie Fortune and Marcus Cumberbatch midway through the half put the Saints on terms with a late Fortune spot kick completing the fightback. Revenge was sweet for Holbeach as they saw off their FA Cup conquerors Alvechurch 2-1 after extra time at Carters Park. Kevin Childs matched the visitors' first half opener and old stager Paul Langford won it for the Tigers ten minutes into the additional half hour. |
| Cooks end Arrows run |
|
It was unlucky 13 for Harrowby as their twelve match unbeaten run was halted in a 4-0 drubbing at Cogenhoe. Simon McCarthy, Rob Goldring (2) and Richard Turner all found the Harrowby net after a scoreless first half. Yaxley took advantage to return to the summit, a just reward for their fightback to win 3-2 at Deeping. Ricky Hailstone's stoppage time spot kick gave the Cuckoos full points after Chris Gospel and Danny Bowyer had pegged back a two goal Deeping lead with goals from Gianni Santoro and Ady Barkess.
Long Buckby are the division's form team after a 4-1 home win over basement side Daventry. Lee Botterill, Darren Harmon, Danny Wright and Danny Finlay shared the Buckby goals as they made it four successive wins, Dave Lancaster replying for Daventry who are now four points adrift after Stewarts & Lloyds won 2-1 at Wootton, who are now perched uncomfortably above the drop zone. Greig McIlwain and Pete Sneddon gave S&L the victory, Darek Jozwiak replying late on for Blue Cross. New Blackstone's manager Tony Lowther enjoyed his first win at the helm as a first half Matty Doyle strike saw off hosts Ford Sports 1-0, while Bourne debutant Jason Harrison snatched a late winner as the Wakes saw off Northampton Spencer 2-1 at the Abbey Lawn. Simon Barrick had earlier cancelled out Mohamed Ali's opener for the Millers. Raunds are now third from bottom after a 2-2 draw at Newport Pagnell. Michael Lyon scored both Swans' goals with Duane St John and Phil Woolley replying for the Shopmates. |
| Corinths back on top |
|
The 20 November programme saw Rothwell Corinthians regain top slot in Division One with a 4-0 success at Kempston. Two goals from Jim Partridge and one apiece from Dave Briffa and Dan Morris, all in the last thirty minutes, gave Corinths a first win in three meetings with the Walnut Boys this term and took them ahead of Thrapston on goal difference. A Jamie Shaw brace took him to 16 goals for the season as Sleaford saw off Huntingdon 3-2 at Cranwell. Steve Rowland was the other home marksman with Paul Nevill and Gavin Marsh the Huntingdon scorers. Irchester ended a four match losing run with a 3-0 home victory over Olney, Mark Dudley, Dave Hiscock and Jamie Payne sharing the goals. There was another defeat for bottom club Burton Park, 5-0 at Eynesbury whose goalscorers were Ross West, Jamie Donald, Dave Fisk, Barry Albone and Matt Wray. |
| Last two winners exit Junior Cup |
|
The league will have six clubs in the last eight of the Northants Junior Cup but the two clubs which have monopolised the trophy in recent seasons will be missing from the line up. Sileby, winners in 2002 and 2003, bowed out 3-1 at Milton after scoring first through Paul Fountain while holders Thrapston lost 5-3 on penalties to Stewarts & Lloyds Reserves at Occupation Road after sharing four goals. Kenny Simmons and Derek Simmons scored for S&L with James Blake and Dave Harding replying for the holders while in the shootout Blake's miss proved decisive.
Blisworth roared to a 7-0 win at Higham, Joe Rich, Matt Collins and Mark Barnard scoring two apiece, Kevin Eyre also on target. Another all domestic tie saw Eye win 7-3 at ON Chenecks after extra time, a harsh outcome for Chenecks' Peter Green who hit a hat trick. Ian Fovargue likewise scored three for Eye whose other marksmen were two goal Shaun Skerritt, Dino Salerno and Ashley Favell. Corby Cottingham beat Peterborough Sports 2-0 with Sean Brennan and Dave Trimble on target in the second half, while a goal in eaxh half from Paul Sloley saw Bugbrooke through 2-1 at Heyford. Whitworths were 4-0 home winners over Corby Hellenic with two goals from James Daldy and one apiece from Tom Francis and Kris Line. |
| Transfers to 20/11/04 |
|
88. Michael Boyle-Chong - Daventry to Raunds
89. Steve Appleby - Bourne to Boston Town 90. Chris Dear - Spalding to Yaxley 91. Wayne Partridge - Rothwell Corinthians to Whitworths 92. Bobby Lewsam - Bourne to Deeping 93. Barry White - St Neots to Stotfold 94. Jason Sedlan - Spalding to Harrowby 95. Garry Chambers - Rothwell Town to Rothwell Corinthians 96. Jason Harrison - Harrowby to Bourne |
| Daventry Charity Cup draw |
|
1st Round
COGENHOE v WOODFORD; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v DAVENTRY; SILEBY v FORD SPORTS; Banbury v Moulton. 2nd Round Banbury/Moulton v Spratton; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER/DAVENTRY v Crick; COGENHOE/WOODFORD v SILEBY/FORD SPORTS; LONG BUCKBY v Queen Eleanor. |
| Matson stars for Poachers |
|
A four goal salvo from Boston striker Danny Matson gave new Blackstones boss Tony Lowther a baptism of fire on 17 November. Lee Orrey was also on target as Town ran out 5-0 Lincoln Road winners. A Martin Young double gave Buckingham a 2-1 home win over Daventry, Mark Taylor replying for the visitors who are now back in bottom place after Stewarts & Lloyds picked up a point at Bourne in a goalless stalemate. Long Buckby moved further away from the drop zone with a 2-1 derby win over Ford Sports at Station Road. Lee Botterill and Aidy Mann scored for Buckby after they trailed to a goal from former player Luke Dowling. |
| Arrows back on top as Cuckoos slip |
|
On 16 November Harrowby regained top slot in the Premier Division by beating Deeping 3-0 at Harrowby Fields to make it eleven matches unbeaten. John Edwards, Dennis Rhule and Martin Wormall shared the Arrows goals and they displace Yaxley who lost 2-1 at home to Holbeach. Kevin Childs and Nick Keeble gave the Tigers the points, Chris Gospel replying. Potton made it ten matches without loss, avenging their last reverse with a 1-0 victory at Newport Pagnell, Dave Brown the matchwinner for the Royals.
Desborough kept up their challenge with a 1-0 win at Northampton Spencer, Tony Page on target, while in form pair Woodford and Cogenhoe drew 1-1 at Byfield Road, Elliott Sandy's opener for the Cooks matched by Carl Standen's reply. A Graeme Tomlinson brace and Luke Gregson strike saw Stotfold to their first win in six games, 3-0 at home to Bedfordshire rivals Wootton. Raunds reached the semi-finals of the Northants Hillier Senior Cup, beating Kettering 1-0 at Kiln Park thanks to a late Duane St John strike. |
| Lowther takes Blackstones reins |
|
Blackstones have appointed from within to fill the vacancy left by Kevin Flynn's departure. Reserve manager Tony Lowther steps up after a successful 18 month stint at the helm of the second string which saw the reserve side win the Reserve Knockout Cup last season and top the Reserve Division One table for much of the current campaign. Lowther previously ran the Cottesmore second string and Oakham Imperial. Assistant Andy Mills, a UEFA A badge coach, will step up to assist with the first team. |
| Howell back to help Saints |
|
Former manager Chris Howell has returned to St Neots as caretaker boss. Jim Burke, who had been appointed as temporary boss, decided to step down before taking charge of a single match leaving chairman Bob Page to run the side at Daventry on Saturday. In the wake of outgoing manager Jon Taylor's switch to Arlesey along with assistant Scott Houghton, coach Mike Brooks and physio Craig Lambert have also linked up with the Southern League club. The Saints have also lost the services of players Jon Chatfield, Jon Hoggett, Paul Bloss, Mark Burrows, Ian Trott, Liam Harrold and Ozie Foster who all played for the Blues on Saturday. |
| Spencer quits at Newport |
|
Newport Pagnell co-manager Wayne Spencer resigned on 13 November after the Swans' disappointing run of results continued with a defeat by lowly Bourne. Former Corby Town manager Spencer only took over in April along with managerial partner Jimmy Stoyles. Stoyles will continue to run the Newport side with former manager Danny Janes returning to the backroom staff. |
| Top of the table clashes end in stalemate |
|
Four of the Premier Division title contenders were in direct opposition on 13 November, but none were able to secure victories. Yaxley stay top after a 2-2 draw at Potton, John Patten rescuing the Cuckoos with a late equaliser. Chris Gospel's opener for Yaxley was cancelled out by Steve Kuhne and Brett Donnelly's 13th goal of the season looked like winning it for the Royals who were reduced to ten men by Luke Donnelly's dismissal. Harrowby failed to make up any ground, drawing 1-1 at home to Desborough. Mark Foster's opener for the Arrows was cancelled out by George Donnelly. St Neots were surprised by hosts Daventry in a 1-1 draw, Dave Lancaster's goal taking Daventry off the foot of the table after they trailed to a Barry Dellar opener for the managerless Saints. Ford Sports crashed 3-1 at Boston Town who took the points with a Paul Goodhand penalty double and Lee Orrey strike, Jamie Moss replying for the Motormen who slip out of the top six. Replacing them are Cogenhoe who ran out 4-0 winners at new bottom markers Stewarts & Lloyds. Richard Turner scored a hat trick for Adam Sandy's side who also had Richard Bunting on the scoresheet.
Outgoing manager Kevin Flynn left Blackstones on a high note as goals from Kevin Ainslie and Matt Doyle secured a 2-1 home win over Buckingham who replied through Christopher Wreh. A double strike from Kevin Childs and Omar Joof effort gave Holbeach a 3-1 success at Raunds whose marksman was Mike McKenzie, while manager Aidy Mann was Long Buckby's matchwinner in a 1-0 success at out of form Wootton. Bourne scored three times in four second half minutes to overcome hosts Newport Pagnell 3-1. Darren Munton, Carl Basker and Kris Jones gave the Wakes the points after they trailed to a Gary Flinn strike. |
| Atkinson fires Thrapston to the top |
|
Midweek signing Scott Atkinson marked his Thrapston return with the two goals which gave Town a 2-1 win at Rothwell Corinthians and top slot in Division One again on 13 November. Ian Symington replied for Corinths. St Ives halted Blisworth's ten match winning run with a 5-3 success at Courteenhall Road. A Graeme Thackray hat trick and Chris Ewles brace gave the Saints their win with Mark Barnard, Neil Lovell and Matt Collins the home marksmen. Sileby lost ground in the title race as goals from Bobby Drain and Graham Clark gave Corby Cottingham a 2-0 success at Fernie Fields. Huntingdon were 3-0 home winners over Higham with a James Edwards double and Carl Foreman strike, while an Adrian Spruels brace and Sammy Dale strike saw Bugbrooke to a 3-1 home win over Olney who replied through Sam Callear. ON Chenecks collected only their second win of the campaign, 3-0 at home to Irchester, Jon Burdett scoring twice and Jamie Nuttall once. Burton Park are still without a win after crashing 5-3 at home to Kempston. Jason Layne and Jason Allison scored two apiece for the Walnut Boys who also had Ian Grove on target. Ross Dineen, Steve Horton and Adam Newman scored for Burton. |
| Stotfold and Woodford reach last eight |
|
The Knockout Cup action on 13 November saw Stotfold and Woodford book last eight places. Stotfold progressed 3-2 at Northampton Spencer despite having Ian Morrison and Alexis Weber dismissed. Richard Beckett, Justin Griffiths and an own goal from Josh Urquhart saw the Eagles through, with Jerry Moss and a Lee Allinson own goal counting for Spencer. Martin Fletcher and Lewis Travers gave Woodford a 2-1 home win over Eye who replied through Dino Salerno. In a First Round tie Eynesbury surprised hosts Whitworths 2-1, Nick Gibson and Paul Carey on target for Rovers with Matt Freeman the Flourmen marksman. |
| Transfers to 12/11/04 |
|
83. Louis Hawkins - Burton PW to Rothwell Corinthians
84. Marcus Keirle - Desborough to Blackstones 85. Bobby Lewsam - Boston Town to Bourne 86. Scott Atkinson - Sileby to Thrapston 87. Paul Currier - Woodford to Ford Sports |
| Robins make county cup progress |
|
The midweek action on 9 and 10 November was restricted to a variety of cup competitions. In the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy 2nd Round on Tuesday Newport Pagnell crashed 5-1 to Abingdon United, Ben Hill on target, but 24 hours later Buckingham beat unbeaten Hellenic side Didcot 3-2. Two Reuben Max-Grant goals and one from Martin Young took last season's runners up through.
There were two 1st Round matches in the Hinchingbrooke Cup. On Tuesday St Neots beat Bourne 1-0 at Rowley Park, Ronnie Fortune the matchwinner, while on Wednesday Blackstones were 2-0 home winners over Deeping despite giving a chance to many of their reserve squad. Goals from Andy Boome and Andy Smurthwaite, with a penalty, brought about an upset. Other Tuesday action saw Ford Sports lose 4-0 at Leighton in the Buckingham Charity Cup after losing keeper Shaun Allen through injury, while in the South Midlands Floodlit Cup Wootton exited 3-2 at Wormley, Chris Johnson and Ben Chambers (penalty) on target for Blue Cross. |
| Taylor leaves St Neots |
|
The managerial merry go round gathered momentum on 9 November with the news that St Neots manager Jon Taylor and assistant Scott Houghton were leaving Rowley Park to take up similar positions with Southern League Eastern Division strugglers Arlesey Town. Taylor joined the Saints in May 2003 from Wootton. He led the Saints to 4th place in the league last season, the last 32 of the FA Vase, the final of the Hunts Senior Cup and success in the Buckingham Charity Cup.
The vacancy will be advertised with reserve boss Jim Burke handed the reins on a temporary basis. |
| Flynn quits Stones |
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Blackstones are looking for their third manager of the season. Kevin Flynn has resigned after just nine weeks in charge at Lincoln Road. The former Peterborough United academy coach has cited pressure of work as the reason for his departure. He took the Stones' reins at the end of September, replacing Mel Landin at the helm. |
| Wins for basement duo |
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The scramble at the foot of the Premier Division saw wins for the bottom two on 6 November. Basement outfit Daventry made it seven points out of nine with a 4-3 home win over Wootton. Darren Towers' last minute goal, his second of the game, won it for Town who also had Dave Stone and Seb Rockliff on target. Two goal Ben Chambers and Clive Woodland replied for Blue Cross. Long Buckby halted a four match losing streak by beating Blackstones 3-2 at Station Road. A Darren Harmon brace and Lee Botterill effort gave Buckby victory with Laurence Clark and Alex Higgins replying for Stones. Stewarts & Lloyds were unable to build on a midweek win going down 2-0 at Raunds whose scorers were Tyrone Hicks and Gavin Fitzgerald. Bourne are also back in trouble after a 4-0 reverse at home to Ford Sports whose goals were shared by Dave Bond, Ian Pearce, Rob Steele and Mark Drake.
Yaxley are back on top after Mark Paul's third goal in two games gave them a 1-0 success at Stotfold. St Neots suffered their first defeat in seven outings, 2-1 at Buckingham. Mark Burrows' opener for the Saints was matched by Leroy Williams and Martin Young won it for the Robins late on. Desborough beat Boston 2-0 with first half goals from Jamie Gilsenan and George Donnelly. The only draw in the division came at Kingsthorpe Mill where Northampton Spencer and Newport Pagnell drew 2-2. The Swans twice led through Jamie Scales and Robin Tucker with Darren Frost and Jerry Moss equalising for Spencer. |
| Whitworths snatch top slot |
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Whitworths snatched pole position in Division One on 6 November with a 5-2 drubbing of morning leaders Sileby. Two goal Matt Freeman, James Daldy, Sol Benjamin and Kris Line all scored in the first half with Adam Taylor and Glen Turner replying after the interval for Rangers. St Ives and Eynesbury also scored five. The Saints beat Olney 5-1 with two goals from Chris Ewles and singles from Liam Kennett, Simon Claridge and Glyn Cooke, Scott Wrighting the Nurserymen marksman. Rovers won 5-4 at Higham after trailing by two goals at the interval. Paul Carey's hat trick turned the game with Carl Albone and Mark Garwood sealing the win with late goals. James Westley scored two for the Lankies whose other scorers were Steve Ainge and Danny Bird.
Rothwell Corinthians are second in the table after edging out hosts Irchester 1-0 with an Ian Symington goal, while Thrapston lost ground after drawing 1-1 at Sleaford. Jamie Black's late strike earned the Lincolnshire side a point after Dave Harding gave Thrapston a first half lead. Blisworth extended their winning run to ten games with a 1-0 Courteenhall Road defeat of Burton Park, Tim Buxton on target. Eye were 4-2 home winners over ON Chenecks with goals from Ashley Favell, Danny Youngs, Darren Bradley and Adam Sammons, Dan Clarke scoring both for Chenecks. Huntingdon and Bugbrooke drew 1-1 at Jubilee Park, Ross Sommers levelling for the home side after Dave Weedon gave the Badgers the lead. |
| Arrows on a goal spree |
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In the Knockout Cup 1st Round Harrowby enjoyed a goal spree at Corby Cottingham on 6 November. Martin Wormall and Scott Taylor hit hat tricks in Harrowby's 7-3 win. Shane Bird was the other Arrows scorer with Dave Trimble, Steve Brydon and Dave Donativo replying. Two Darren Collins goals and one from Richard Turner saw Cogenhoe to a 3-1 home win over Holbeach who led at the interval through Darren Cundy. In the last of the Preliminary Round ties Potton won 3-0 at Deeping with first half goals from Brett Donnelly, Paul Donnelly and Steve Kuhne.
Kempston bowed out of the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy losing 4-1 to Biggleswade United in a 1st Round tie at Hillgrounds. Ian Grove gave the Walnut Boys an early lead. |
| Addy quits at Burton Park |
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Summer appointee Neil Addy, formerly reserve manager at Cottingham, has resigned as manager of Burton Park Wanderers after just five months at the helm. Secretary Roger Patrick will sct as caretaker manager, working in tandem with coaches Gary Fletcher and Colin Jenkinson. |
| Sleaford given ground nod |
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Sleaford have been granted planning permission by North Kesteven District Council for a new ground on Boston Road subject to confirmation from Environmental and Highways departments. The planning permission has been granted for a floodlit pitch, car park, junior pitches and pavilion including changing rooms, clubhouse and 250 seater stand. |
| Transfers to 5/11/04 |
|
74. Dave Scotney - Bourne to Boston
75. Ollie Faulder - Wootton to Blackstones 76. Darren Smith - Higham to ON Chenecks 77. Bobby Drain - Stewarts & Lloyds to Corby Cottingham 78. Dave Newell - Blisworth to Long Buckby 79. Mark Pledger - Wootton to Kempston 80. Matt Adams - Wootton to Kempston 81. Stuart Anton - Eye to Spalding 82. Ricky Hughes - Kempston to Irchester |
| Lincolnshire Senior Cup - semi final draws |
|
Senior Cup 'A' (4 December)
HOLBEACH v HARROWBY; BOSTON TOWN v Winterton. Senior Cup 'B' (22 January) SLEAFORD v Ruston Sports; Grimsby Borough v Horncastle. |
| Harrowby top the Premier |
|
Harrowby took over Premier pole on 2 November with a 2-2 draw at Boston. The Poachers twice led through Lee Orrey and a Ross Don-Duncan spot kick with Martin Wormall and Shane Bird twice equaliding for the Arrows. A Steve Kuhne penalty gave Potton a 2-1 home win over Wootton after James Hatch's opener for the Royals was cancelled out by an Andy Taylor leveller. Stotfold and St neots drew 2-2 at Roker, Ozie Foster and Liam Harrold twice giving the Saints the lead with Ian Morrison and Paul Garrett (penalty) earning the Eagles a point. A Danny Hussey own goal gave Deeping a 1-0 home win over Holbeach while Northampton Spencer overturned an interval deficit to win 4-1 at Newport Pagnell who took the lead through Tom Hill. Darren Frost, Adam Wigley, Chris Davies and Mohamed Ali won it for Spencer.
Yaxley missed the chance to regain top slot in the Premier on 3 November, going down 1-0 at Bourne who had Jason Gough on target. Fellow strugglers Stewarts & Lloyds also won, 2-0 at Blackstones with a goal in each half from James Morrow. |
| Robins out of Vase |
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Buckingham made their exit from the FA Vase on 3 November, losing 4-2 to Alvechurch. Lewis Reid and Christopher Wreh, with a penalty, scored for the Robins. Alvechurch now visit Holbeach in Round Two.
Twenty four hours earlier Cogenhoe booked a last four place in the Northants Hillier Senior Cup beating Corby 3-2 with Rob Goldring and two goal Richard Turner on target. Daventry crashed 8-0 to Daventry while Woodford's visit to Rothwell was abandoned while goalless after 76 minutes due to fog. Eynesbury lost 2-1 after extra time at Thetford in the East Anglian Cup after taking an early lead through Paul Carey. |
| October award winners |
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The Premier Division Manager of the Month award for October goes to Potton duo Dick Newman and Roy Bloxham after the Royals collected 13 points from five league games and made FA Vase progress.
The Division One award goes to Blisworth's Scott Carlin who led the Railwaymen to four league wins during October. They also made progress in the Knockout Cup, beating top flight Ford Sports, and the Northants Junior Cup. Six goals in just four matches earned Northampton Spencer's Darren Frost the October Goalscorer of the Month award. |
| Transfers to 1/11/04 |
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67. Adam Taylor - Irchester to Sileby
68. Dave Powell - Kenpston to Sleaford 69. Daryl Chappell - Harrowby to Bourne 70. David Page - Ford Sports to Woodford 71. Martin Cain - Irchester to Thrapston 72. Mark Wilson - Harrowby to Bourne 73. Leigh Taylor - Bourne to Deeping |
| Top two win again |
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The Premier top two both ended October with home victories. Yaxley saw off Stewarts & Lloyds 3-0 with new recruits Mark Paul and Dale Watkins both on target, Paul twice. Harrowby beat Long Buckby 4-2 with first half strikes from Scott Taylor (2), Martin Wormall and Mark Foster, the Bucks replied through Jon Crockett and Justin McKenzie. St Neots beat Desborough 3-0 to move up to third place, Liam Harrold firing the opener and substitutes Barry Dellar and Ronnie Fortune making goalscoring comebacks after injury. Potton beat visitors Buckingham 2-1 after falling behind to a Meshach Cole strike, Gary Watts and Gary Jackson turning the tables. A first half Darren Collins goal gave Cogenhoe a 1-0 success at Ford Sports, while Newport Pagnell and Boston Town drew 2-2 at Willen Road. Dom Lawless and Ian Cooper were on target for the Swans with Adam Castagnetti's own goal and a Lee Orrey effort giving the Poachers their point. Daventry are now just one point adrift at the foot of the table after Mark Taylor's goal earned them a 1-1 draw at Blackstones who replied through Michael Chong. |
| Sileby regain top slot |
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A late winner from debutant Adam Taylor took Sileby back to the top of Division One on 30 October. The former Irchester man struck to give Rangers a 2-1 home win over Eye after Mike Battams' starter for Rangers was cancelled out by Ian Fovargue. Whitworths are third after a 4-0 success at Burton Park, Matty Freeman, Kris Line, James Daldy and Tom Francis sharing the goals. ON Chenecks collected their first point under Simon Abbott's management drawing 2-2 with St Ives at Billing Road. Jon Lee and Simon Claridge twice put the visitors ahead but Steve Allen and Lee West twice hauled Chenecks on terms. Blisworth made it nine successive league and cup wins, beating Sleaford 2-0 at Courteenhall Road with Kevin Eyre and Matt Collins on target. Two goals from Lee Martin and one each from Gez McClafferty and Sean Brennan gave Corby Cottingham a 4-1 win at Irchester whose marksman was Damian Grant from the penalty spot while Carl Foreman and Ian King were on target as Huntingdon beat Olney 2-0. Bugbrooke and Eynesbury drew 3-3 at Birds Close. Adrian Spruels, Rob Frost and Paul Sloley netted for the Badgers with Craig Smith, Barry Albone and Paul Carey replying for Rovers. |
| Knockout Cup progress for Bourne and Thrapston |
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The 30 October Knockout Cup action saw a surprise as Bourne won 1-0 at Wootton with a Kris Jones goal, while Thrapston emerged victorious from an all Division One tie, beating hosts Kempston 4-2. Two goals apiece from Dave Harding and Jason Lee took Town through, Chris Boniface and Tom Terry replying.
A Kevin Childs goal took Holbeach into the last four of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup A as they beat Appleby Frodingham 1-0 but Deeping exited 1-0 to Winterton. |
| Poachers and Arrows reach semis |
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The midweek programme for 27 and 28 October was dominated by cup football. In the Lincolnshire Senior Cup A Boston Town won 4-0 at Nettleham with two goals from Paul Goodhand and one apiece from Tony Brooks and Dan Matson. 24 hours later holders Blackstones lost their grip on the trophy losing 2-1 at Harrowby. Richard Holmes scored the Arrows' extra time winner after Scott Taylor's opener was cancelled out by a Laurence Clark spot kick.
Other Tuesday cup action saw Buckingham draw 0-0 at Alvechurch in a delayed FA Vase 1st Round tie, while Olney went down 3-1 at Buckingham Athletic in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup 1st Round, James Gear the marksman. Wootton made their exit from the East Anglian Cup, 3-1 at Ely, a Ben Chambers penalty their only reward. Wednesday's other cup action saw Hinchingbrooke Cup holders Yaxley begin their defence with a 4-1 Preliminary Round success at Cranfield, Ashley Stevens scoring three and Simon Acton one, but Huntingdon's debut saw them crash 6-1 at Biggleswade Town in a 1st Round tie, Carl Foreman on target. The week's only league game saw Stewarts & Lloyds and Bourne draw 1-1 in the Premier on Tuesday, Dominic Johnson and Darren Munton swapping first half goals. |
| FA Vase - 2nd Round draw |
|
HOLBEACH v Alvechurch or BUCKINGHAM; BOSTON TOWN v Mickleover Sports; Carlton v DESBOROUGH; STOTFOLD v AFC Sudbury; ST NEOTS v POtters Bar; Edgware v POTTON; WOODFORD v Eton Manor or March,
Ties to be played 20 November 2004. |
| Huntingdonshire Senior Cup - 2nd Round draw |
|
Bluntisham v Ramsey; Warboys v Ortonians; Somersham v ST IVES; Needingworth v YAXLEY; Godmanchester v Hemingford; EYNESBURY v Great Paxton; Brampton v Woodlands; ST NEOTS v Hotpoint.
|
| First defeat for Yaxley - first win for Daventry |
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The 23 October Premier Division programme saw two major upsets as leaders Yaxley suffered their first defeat of the season and basement boys Daventry notched up their first win. Yaxley lost 1-0 at Newport Pagnell where Michael Lyon scored a 47th minute winner for the Swans. Daventry enjoyed their first league win since January, 5-3 at home to Blackstones. Two Darren Towers goals and one apiece for Mark Taylor, Richard Pannell and Dave Stone gave new Town management duo Simon Morrice and Steve Kirchin their first win at the helm, Stones replying through Gareth Williams, Aaron Ridout and Alex Higgins.
Desborough lost at home for the first time as a Dan Burke strike and Ben Foster penalty gave visitors Cogenhoe a 2-1 success at the Waterworks Fiels, Matty Curtis scoring a late consolation for Ar Tarn. St Neots are up to fifth after a 4-1 Rowley Park defeat of struggling Stewarts & Lloyds. Steve Jelley, debutant Tom Hobbs, Ozie Foster and Paul Bloss shared the Saints goals with Dominic Johnson replying for S&L. Sigitas Kazemekas was the late matchwinner as Ford Sports won 1-0 at Deeping to avenge a home defeat by Rangers seven days earlier. Vince Petty and Darek Jozwiak were the Wootton scorers in their 2-0 win at Long Buckby while a lone Michael McKenzie goal gave Raunds a 1-0 home win and a double over Northampton Spencer. |
| Five through in Vase |
|
Eight Premier Division clubs will feature in the FA Vase 2nd Round draw on 25 October. Exempt pair Desborough and St Neots will be joined by Buckingham whose tie at Alvechurch was postponed, and five clubs who made progress on 23 October.
Paul Goodhand hit a hat trick, including two penalties, as Boston Town beat Dudley 5-2 at Tattershall Road. Lee Orrey and Danny Matson were the other Poachers scorers. Woodford also made home advantage count as they disposed of former winners Stansted 2-1 with Nicky Gordon and Tony Burt on the mark. Potton also claimed an Essex Senior scalp, progressing 2-1 at Southend Manor, Brett Donnelly and Anthony Schurek on the scoresheet. Player manager Shaun Keeble scored twice in extra time to see Holbeach through 2-0 at Blackwell MW, while second half goals from Gary Walker and Luke Gregson gave Stotfold a 2-0 win at North Greenford. Bourne lost 4-1 at Stourbridge after scoring first through Jim McDonnell while Harrowby led three times in the first half at Loughborough before a controversial penalty award turned the tie against them. Martin Wormall, Shane Bird and John Edwards were the Arrows marksmen. |
| County cup success aplenty |
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23 October saw most Division One clubs involved in county cup action. Sleaford are out to make history by winning the Lincolnshire Senior Cup 'B' for a fourth consecutive season and reached the semi-finals of this season's competition with a 3-1 home win over Limestone Rangers, Darren Statham, Jamie Shaw and Jason Partridge sharing the goals. In the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup 1st Round a Paul Carey penalty gave Eynesbury a 1-0 derby success at Eaton Socon, but Huntingdon lost 1-0 to Needingworth in an upset.
Nine Division One sides go into the draw for the Northamptonshire Junior Cup 3rd Round after Second Round successes. Leading the way were Sileby, winners in 2002 and 2003. They demolished hosts Wootton St Georges 11-1 with Mike Battams scoring three, Tim Clack and Tyrone Kent two and Glen Turner, Graham Cottle, Dom Berardi and Scott Atkinson one apiece. James Blake scored two as Thrapston were 5-2 derby winners at Oundle, Zeke Lyford, Dave Harding and Adam Loake also on target. Last season's runners up Corby Cottingham won 5-4 on penalties at Perkins after a 1-1 draw, Lee Martin netting Cottingham's leveller. An All UCL tie saw Whitworths win 4-1 at Rothwell Corinthians. Two Matty Freeman goals and singles from James Daldy and Paul Smith saw the Flourmen through with Tony Ielapi the home marksman. Eye demolished Northants Comb leaders Harpole 5-1 with an Ian Fovargue brace and singles from Mario Palazzo, Dino Salerno and Darren Paling. James Westley scored two as Higham saw off Ashley Rovers 4-1, Paul Malivoire and Dave Kew the other Lankies marksmen. Another two goal man was James Mellor of ON Chenecks who also had Lee West and Peter Green on the mark in a 4-1 defeat of Kislingbury. Nick Woodroffe, Kevin Eyre, Matt Collins and an own goal saw Blisworth to a 4-2 success at Corby St Brendans. Bugbrooke had a bizarre passage to Round Three when it came to light on Friday that scheduled hosts Corby Town Reserves do not exist! S&L Reserves fly the Reserve Division One flag after a 5-0 win over Brackley Reserves but Rothwell Reserves crashed 4-0 at Milton. |
| Transfers to 23/10/04 |
|
61. Dave Stone - Sileby to Daventry
62. Dave Lancaster - Olney to Daventry 63. Aaron Mayhew - Rothwell Corinthians to Raunds 64. Shaun Allen - Long Buckby to Ford Sports 65. Mick Hurst - St Neots to Bourne 66. Phil Gadsby - Bourne to Deeping |
| Harrowby snatch pole - Yaxley grab it back |
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Harrowby moved to the top of the Premier Division on 19 October with a 2-1 home win over Blackstones. Second half strikes from Gary Walters and Darreb Glover won it for the Arrows after Stones took the lead with a Wayne Hallcro own goal. Desborough moved into the top three by beating visitors Raunds 3-0 with Bryan Jeffery, Jamie Gilsenan and George Donnelly on target. St Neots won 3-1 at Newport Pagnell after falling behind to an early Wayne Spencer goal. Two from Ozie Foster and one from Paul Bloss gave the Saints the points. Micky Nuttell's brace gave Boston a 2-1 win at Deeping whose marksman was Tuncay Korkmaz while Northampton Spencer were 3-0 home winners over Long Buckby, Adam Wigley scoring twice either side of Darren Frost's 11th goal of the season.
24 hours later Yaxley were back on top after a 3-1 success at Holbeach. Simon Acton, Ricky Hailstone and Chris Lenton struck early for the Cuckoos, Nick Keeble replying with a second half penalty. Wootton beat Stotfold 3-1 at Weston Park, Ben Chambers, Paul Harrington and Darek Jozwiak the home scorers with Gary Walker replying for the Eagles. |
| S&L out of Hillier - Hinchingbrooke wins for two |
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Stewarts & Lloyds were beaten 4-0 by Kettering in the 1st Round of the Northants Hillier Senior Cup on 19 October. The Poppies now visit Raunds in the last eight.
The same night saw Kempston beat Eynesbury 1-0 to rewach the Hinchingbrooke Cup quarter finals, Jason Layne the matchwinner for the Walnut Boys. 24 hours later Bourne beat Rothwell Corinthians 2-1 in a Preliminary Round tie, Tim Carter and Danny Grigas the Wakes marksmen with Jim Partridge on target for the visitors. |
| Northants Hillier Senior Cup - 2nd Round draw |
|
COGENHOE v Corby Town; DAVENTRY v Brackley; RAUNDS v STEWARTS & LLOYDS or Kettering Town; Rothwell Town v WOODFORD.
Ties to be played November 2nd. |
| Mitchell confirmed as Wakes boss |
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Bourne Town have confirmed the appointment of Mark Mitchell as manager for a third time. In his first spell at the helm Mitchell led the Wakes to championship success and he ended an 18 month second spell at the helm at the end of last season, taking on a Director of Football role at the Abbey Lawn. Mitchell took temporary charge two weeks ago after Steve Appleby's resignation. Former Mansfield and Lincoln player and Harrowby and Spalding manager Nicky Andersen has joined Bourne as Mitchell's right hand man. |
| Arrows join Cuckoos at the top |
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The 16 October programme saw Harrowby join Yaxley on 24 points at the top. The Cuckoos are still unbeaten after a 2-2 home draw with Wootton. Danny Bowyer and Ricky Hailstone were the Yaxley scorers, Darek Jozwiak and Keith Snylam the Blue Cross marksmen. Harrowby got the better of Daventry 1-0 with Gary Walters the matchwinner. A last minute Reuben Max-Grant goal gave Buckingham a 3-3 home draw with Potton. Brett Donnelly's 11th goal of the season and a Steve Kuhne brace looked like giving the Royals victory, but Lewis Reid and Christopher Wreh kept the Robins in the hunt. Woodford are fourth after drawing 1-1 at Stotfold, a Justin Griffiths opener for the Eagles quickly cancelled out by a Nicky Gordon equaliser.
Lee Ellison and Chris Garwell gave Deeping a 2-1 victory at Ford Sports who had taken a first minute lead through Sigitas Kazemekas. First half goals from Tom Mills and Jamie Gilsenan saw Desborough to a 2-1 success at Blackstones who replied through Aaron Ridout. Cogenhoe suffered a second successive defeat as Damian Matthews netted in stoppage time to give St Neots a 2-1 home win, Liam Harrold the other Saints marksman with his ninth goal of the season and Darren Collins replying. Newport Pagnell completed a double over Stewarts & Lloyds, manager Wayne Spencer the matchwinner in a 1-0 Willen Road success for the Swans. Rob Speechley and Kevin Childs scored two apiece as Holbeach trounced hosts Long Buckby 5-1. Lee Hudson was the other Tigers scorer with Lee Botterill the home marksman. Boston Town and Raunds dtew 1-1 at Tattershall Road, Paul Goodhand and Duane St John the respective scorers while Northampton Spencer hot shot Darren Frost took his season's goal tally to ten with a brace in the Millers' 4-1 win over visiting Bourne. Jerry Moss scored the other two Spencer goals with Danny Grigas scoring a Wakes consolation from the penalty spot. |
| Thrapston go two points clear |
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Thrapston moved two points clear at the top of Division One on 16 October, Dave Harding and James Blake on target in a 2-0 home win over Huntingdon. Rothwell Corinthians kept up their challenge in second, beating Higham 2-1 at Sergeant's Lawn with first half goals from Kevin Fox and Tony Ielapi, manager Ben Lord replying for the Lankies. Sileby slipped to third after a 1-1 stalemate at Eynesbury, Mike Battams' opener for Rangers matched by a late Mark Garwood reply. Whitworths lost ground, going down 1-0 at Sleaford whose matchwinner was Jordan Richardson.
St Ives are fifth after a 2-1 Westwood Road defeat of ON Chenecks. Will Fordham and Graeme Thackray won it for the Saints, Dan Clarke scoring the visiting consolation. Blisworth maintained their winning run with a 2-1 success at Irchester, Joe Rich and Nicky Woodroffe giving the Railwaymen the points and Damian Grant the Romans scorer. Kempston are without a win in nine outings after drawing 0-0 at home to Corby Cottingham, while Paul Sloley saw Bugbrooke to a 1-0 victory at Burton Park. |
| Transfers to 17/10/04 |
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42. Daniel Burke - Woodford to Cogenhoe
43. Gary Clark - Desborough to Irchester 44. Stuart Goosey - Raunds to Cogenhoe 45. Michael Coles - Desborough to Rothwell Town 46. Tom Roberts - Blackstones to Bourne 47. Tuncay Korkmaz - Yaxley to Deeping 48. Adam Toop - Desborough to Rothwell Corinthians 49. Ian Scullion - Rothwell Town to Stewarts & Lloyds 50. Tom Bland - Ford Sports to Daventry 51. Simon Morrice - Blisworth to Daventry 52. Micky Nuttell - Bourne to Boston Town 53. Jason Vaughan - Bourne to Boston town 54. Richard Eddy - ON Chenecks to Raunds 55. Jason Harrison - Eye to Harrowby 56. Ian Waldock - Daventry to Ford Sports 57. Steve Garfoot - Bourne to Sleaford 58. Ross Harris - Northampton Spencer to Ford Sports 59. Dave Turner - Cogenhoe to Daventry 60. Mike McConnell - Corby Cottingham to Stewarts & Lloyds |
| Corinths miss chance to go top |
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Rothwell Corinthians missed the chance to go top of Division One on 12 October, losing 4-2 to visitors Eye. A Shaun Skerritt brace and singles from Dino Salerno and Mario Palazzo gave Eye the points after Corinths twice led in the first half through Kevin Fox and Tony Ielapi. Whitworths won a thrilling contest 4-3 at Eynesbury. Ben Holley scored a last minute winner with Sol Benjamin, James Daldy and Matt Freeman the other Flourmen scorers, Rovers replying through Andy Morris, Barry Albone and Mark Garwood. Late goals from Simon Claridge and Graeme Thackray sawe St Ives to a 3-1 home win over Higham after Chris Ewles' opener was cancelled out by Chris Martin, while Irchester halted their losing run with a 2-0 success at Kempston, second half goals from Damian Grant and Martin Cain doing the trick.
The following night saw Corby Cottingham beat Burton Park 2-0 with Steve Brydon and Lee Martin on the mark, while a lone James Edwards strike saw Huntingdon to a 1-0 win over Sleaford. |
| Mixed fortunes in Senior Cup |
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Potton went out of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup on 12 October losing 3-2 in their 1st Round tie at Dunstable despite a late Steve Kuhne brace. 24 hours later Wootton fared better with a 2-0 win over Bedford United, Ben Chambers and Darek Jozwiak on the scoresheet.
Newport Pagnell beat Hook Norton 2-1 in a Buckingham Charity Cup 1st Round tie on 12 October. Anthony Grubb and Sonny Deaville were the Newport scorers. |
| Elliott leaves S&L |
|
Stewarts & Lloyds have lost the services of assistant manager Des Elliott. The veteran goalkeeper, who was appointed as Kevin Fox's right hand man over the summer, has taken up a similar position at Southern League neighbours Corby Town where he will assist one time Cottingham chief Rob Dunion at the Steelmen's helm. |
| First win in 17 months for Buckby second string |
|
9 October was a memorable day for Long Buckby Reserves who collected their first Reserve Division Two win since 6 May 2003. An Ashley Inwood goal on the stroke of half time gave the Bucks a 1-0 win over Whitworths, their first in 35 matches. After losing the final match of the 2002-03 season Buckby failed to win in last season's 30 match programme and kicked off the current campaign with three defeats. |
| Yaxley end Cogenhoe run |
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The 9 October match of the day saw the Premier Division's two unbeaten sides meet at Compton Park. Yaxley were convincing 3-0 winners over hosts Cogenhoe to go back to the top of the table, Ashley Stevens scoring twice either side of a Danny Bowyer strike. Harrowby are third after first half goals from Adam Buckley and Dom Revill secured a 2-1 victory at Wootton who replied through Dom Carminati. Ford Sports got the better of hosts Raunds 2-1, Dave Bond and Ian Pearce on target for the Motormen with Jamie Russell replying late in the game for the Shopmates.
Nicky Gordon scored in each half to give Woodford a 2-1 win over Bourne who had Darren Munton on target, while an 88th minute Jamie Gilsenan goal gave Desborough a 1-0 success at Holbeach. A Gianni Santoro double saw Deeping to a 2-0 home win over Stotfold. Two more home points slipped through Buckingham's grasp as they drew 1-1 with Boston Town, Meshach Cole cancelling out Ben Harris's opener for the Poachers. Mid table pair Blackstones and St Neots also shared the spoils in a 1-1 Lincoln Road stalemate, Alex Higgins the Stones marksman before Liam Harrold levelled in the final minute. Newport Pagnell halted a five match losing streak with a 3-0 win at bottom club Daventry. Michael Lyon, Richard Caso and John Thorpe made it a losing start for new Daventry managerial duo Simon Morrice and Steve Kirchin. |
| First win for Olney |
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Olney notched up their first Division One win of the season on 9 October, Steve Foster and Paul Munday on target in a 2-1 East Street defeat of unpredictable Eynesbury whose scorer was Kirk Kidd. The Nurserymen's success leaves Burton Park as the only side without a win following a 2-0 home defeat by Sleaford who had Jamie Shaw and Jason Partridge on the scoresheet. Next to bottom ON Chenecks are just one point clear of Burton after losing 3-0 at home to Blisworth who notched up a fourth successive win thanks to goals from Jason Bradshaw, Matt Collins and Kevin Eyre.
At the top Whitworths suffered their first defeat since the season's opening day, Jason Lee on target either side of the interval as leaders Thrapston won 2-0 at London Road. Second placed Sileby completed an eight day double over Irchester with a 2-1 Ferniel Fields success. Rob Stewart and Glen Turner gave Rangers the points with Jamie Payne replying for the Romans. Rothwell Corinthians climbed to third with a 3-0 win at Huntingdon, Dave Briffa scoring twice and Tom Greasley once. Eye avenged the previous week's defeat at St Ives with a 3-1 win in the Chestnut Avenue return. Steve Phillips, Shsun Skerritt and Dino Salerno were the Eye marksmen, Will Fordham replying. Goals from Dave Donativo and Dave Trimble gave Corby Cottingham a double over Bugbrooke who had manager Danny Mackintosh on target in a 2-1 home defeat. Higham and Kempston drew 0-0 at Vine Hill Drive, the Walnut Boys halting their six match losing run. |
| Potton go top |
|
Premier newboys Potton went to the top of the table on 8 October with a 4-3 home win over Northampton Spencer. Two goals apiece from strike partners Steve Kuhne and Brett Donnelly gave the Royals the points with Darren Frost's hat trick all in vain. Long Buckby moved out of the bottom six with a 3-0 success at Stewarts & Lloyds, Danny Wright, Aidy York and Jon Crockett sharing the goals. |
| 9 October - early kick off times |
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Due to the televised World Cup qualifier between England and Wales ot is understood that the following matches have been brought forward:-
Premier Division: Buckingham v Boston (2); Deeping v Stotfold (12); Raunds v Ford Sports (1); Woodford v Bourne (12); Wootton v Harrowby (12.30). Division One: Burton PW v Sleaford (1); Eye v St Ives (1); Higham v Kempston (1); Huntingdon v Rothwell Corinthians (12); ON Chenecks v Blisworth (12.45); Sileby v Irchester (1); Olney v Eynesbury (120; Whitworths v Thrapston (12.30) Reserve Division One: Newport Pagnell v Sileby (1). Reserve Division Two: Irchester v ON Chenecks (12.45); Long Buckby v Whitworths (12.30); Rothwell Corinthians v Huntingdon (12.00). Hunts Benevolent Cup: Eynesbury Reserves v Brampton Reserves (1.15) Northants Junior Cup: Corby St Brendans v Cogenhoe Reserves (1 - at Corby); Northampton Spencer Reserves v Moulton (12). If you are planning to go to a match scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. it is advisable to check with the home club that this has not been brought forward. |
| Managerial changes for trio |
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Three clubs have made changes at the helm in recent days. Daventry manager Mark Shackleton resigned after just under three years in charge at Elderstubbs. He has been replaced by co-managers Simon Morrice and Steve Kirchin. Morrice managed Blisworth from November 1999 to May 2002 while Kitchin has been assistant to Peter Green at ON Chenecks.
Bourne player-manager Steve Appleby called time on his five month Abbey Lawn reign after the Wakes' Lincs. Senior Cup exit on 5 October. Mark Mitchell, twice manager at the Abbey Lawn, and now the club's director of football, takes temporary charge. In Division One Peter Green has ended a two and a half year spell at the ON Chenecks helm, resigning due to pressure of work. Simon Abbott has been promoted from reserve manager, with Dave King taking charge of the second string for a second time. |
| Royals and Arrows close in at the top |
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Potton and Harrowby are closing in on Premier Division leaders Yaxley at the top of the table after midweek victories. On 5 October the Cuckoos were held 3-3 by Boston Town with an injury time Ricky Hailstone spot kick preserving Yaxley's unbeaten record. Hailstone and Ashley Stevens notched first half goals for the Cuckoos with Ben Harris, Lee Rippin and Ollie Pinner turning the game in Boston's favour late on. Top flight newboys Potton moved up to second with a 3-1 success at St Neots. Gary Watts, Brett Donnelly and James Hatch scored for the Royals with Liam Harrold replying. Newport Pagnell's poor run continued with a 1-0 home defeat by Woodford, Martin Fletcher the marksman.
On 6 October Harrowby moved up to third place with a 4-0 victory at Blackstones, the goals all arriving in the first half through Marc Huggins, Richard Thompson, Martin Wormall and Gary Walters. |
| Stotfold out of FA Cup |
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Stotfold bowed out of the FA Cup on 5 October losing their 2nd Qualifying Round replay 4-2 at Aylesbury. Gary Walker scored twice in the last eleven minutes after the Ducks had opened up a four goal lead.
The week's Northants Hillier Senior Cup 1st Round action saw only Cogenhoe progress. Jamie Wright, Elliott Sandy and Darren Collins gave the Cooks a 3-1 win over Northampton Spencer who were first to score through Adam Wigley. Last season's runners-up Desborough lost 1-0 to Rothwell Town in a Waterworks Field derby while Wednesday's ties saw 2-0 defeats for Ford Sports at Brackley and Long Buckby at home to Corby. Bourne made a surprise exit from the Lincolnshire Senior Cup A, 4-3 at Nettleham. Micky Nuttell's brace gave the Wakes a 2-0 interval lead, but the home side fought back after the interval with a Kris Jones own goal, shortly after he scored at the right end, proving costly. |
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| Can you answer all ten correctly? |
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1. Shortest distance between the penalty mark and goal line? [] 8 yards [] 10 yards [] 12 yards 2. How many minutes should each half be? [] 30 minutes [] 45 minutes [] 60 minutes 3. Can a goal be scored direct from the kick off? [] Yes [] No 4. Can you be offside from a Goal Kick? [] Yes [] No 5. How many substitutes are allowed to play? [] 3 [] 5 [] 7 6. What would you do to a player who spits at another player? [] No action [] Yellow Card [] Red Card 7. What would you award if a defender kicked the ball into his own goal direct from a free kick? [] Re-take [] Goal [] Corner Kick 8. What is the minimum number of players needed by a team to start a game? [] 6 [] 7 [] 8 9. What would you award for dangerous play? [] Dropped Ball [] Indirect Free Kick [] Direct Free Kick 10. What decision does the away team captain make if he wins the toss? [] to kick-off [] to choose ends [] either of these Please highlight all ten questions, copy them ( use Ctrl+C ), and then click here |